CINCINNATI | The Cubs now formally get a chance to scratch their 99-year championship itch.

Thrilling many thousands of their fans who created a sea of blue amid the 32,193 at Great American Ballpark, the Cubs clinched the National League Central on Friday night with a 6-0 victory over the Reds. A 6-3 Brewers loss to the San Diego Padres sealed Milwaukee's fate.

"We've got some nice talent here," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said after the game. "At the same time, we got into a situation where the team in front of us gave us a chance to get back in the race. We said, 'All right,' and we got after it."

Despite the Cubs modest 84-victory total, first place is still first place in the record books. It is an uncommon feat for the star-crossed franchise. It now has finished atop the regular-season standings for only the fourth time since its last National League pennant in 1945 -- and only the fifth time the Cubs have gained entree to the post-season since that wartime season.

Carlos Zambrano, enduring an up-and-down season, was at one of his peaks with seven shutout innings for his 18th victory. He was backed by Alfonso Soriano's 32nd homer and Derrek Lee's 22nd. Soriano's 19th assist -- the most by a Cubs outfielder since 1951 -- blunted the Reds' only serious rally.

Now the Cubs probably must wait until the final day of the season Sunday -- or possibly beyond -- to see who their National League Division Series opponent will be, as part of their never-ending quest of the World Series. They are scheduled to open on the road Wednesday, but that could be delayed because of the possibility of multiple tie-breaking games in the other division and wild-card races.