PHOENIX - The St. Louis Cardinals never made it easy on themselves, labouring through injuries and inconsistency, unable to get into the NL Central race until around the All-Star break.Even after they surged into the lead, the Cardinals had a hard time finishing it off, limping to the finish while allowing Pittsburgh to hang around for a chance at the division title.It all came down to game No. 162 and it ended up being the easiest win of the season a€” even if they didnt need it.The Cardinals clinched their second straight NL Central title before the first pitch Sunday and finished off the regular season with a get-to-the-celebration 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Next up: The Dodgers in the NL division series Friday in Los Angeles.Fortunately, we weathered the storm and the guys just put their nose down, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Im real proud of the guys.The Cardinals were assured of a playoff spot entering the day. What that spot would be depended on whether they could beat the Diamondbacks or Cincinnati knocked off Pittsburgh.The Reds took care of business for the Cardinals by beating the Pirates 4-1, a victory that was announced about 10 minutes before St. Louis game against Arizona.The Cardinals celebrated in the dugout, then it did it again after the final out against the Diamondbacks, wildly spraying each other with champagne and beer after an oh-so-sweet finish to their second straight 90-win season.We know Pittsburgh had a good run, but we had a better one, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina said.Once Sundays game started, both teams seemed to go through the motions, the only run coming on Kolten Wongs groundout in the sixth inning off Josh Collmenter (11-9).The Cardinals scratched scheduled starter Adam Wainwright just before the start, using five relievers instead. Justin Masterson (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings and Carlos Martinez got the final two outs for his first save.Arizona went down meekly, managing two hits to finish 64-98, worst in the majors and second-worst record in team history.We had higher expectations coming out of the spring, Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler said. Whether you look at the injuries or the pure lack of execution on the field, this is not how we wanted to finish. We definitely dont feel like we are the worse team in baseball, even though the record says we were this year.The Cardinals went to the World Series last season, yet have seemed to make it hard on themselves this season, taking the NL Central race down to the final game after limping to the finish.St. Louis had a chance to wrap up the division title Saturday night, but couldnt put away the Diamondbacks, losing 5-2 after Mark Trumbo hit a pair of homers.Cincinnati eliminated the drama for St. Louis with a win that sent the Pirates to the wild-card game and St. Louis into the division series. The result was announced at Chase Field about 10 minutes before first pitch and the Cardinals celebrated with a round of high-fives and hugs in the dugout.I think I threw a pitch without looking because I was watching the scoreboard, Wainwright said. It was a great feeling.Matheny said Wainwright would start the season finale regardless of what happened with the Pirates, but he was replaced by Nick Greenwood just before the game.With nothing to play for on either side, the Cardinals and Diamondbacks breezed through a brisk, free-swinging game that was more like spring training than a season finale.COLLMENTERS OUTINGCollmenter was Arizonas best starter down the stretch of the season and turned in another solid outing the finale, even if he didnt get much support. The right-hander allowed three hits in eight innings, dropping his ERA to 1.26 over his final seven starts.I just wanted to finish the season strong, Collmenter said.NUMBERSThe Cardinals notched their 23rd shutout of the season, third-most in team history. The 1968 team had 30 and the 1944 team 26. ... Arizonas Ender Inciarte went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting streak. ... Masterson earned his first win as a reliever since July 5, 2009, against Seattle.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: LF Matt Holliday was out of the lineup after leaving in the sixth inning Saturday night due to flu-like symptoms.UP NEXT:Cardinals: Wainright will start against NL Cy Young Award favourite Clayton Kershaw in the division series opener against the Dodgers. Bogdan Bogdanovic Kings Jersey . A fully booked flight forced me to leave two hours later. After a nice meal in which I studied the stats of the Argo win, I prepared to leave the restaurant. As I was gathering my things to leave many large individuals began to walk up and wait for tables. Peja Stojakovic Kings Jersey . A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision. http://www.nbakingsonline.com/Customized/ . -- J.R. Sweezy was the one part of the Seattle Seahawks offensive line that had avoided injuries or having to change positions this season. Yogi Ferrell Jersey .Cullen scored the go-ahead goal at 13:47 of the third period and Nashville beat the slumping Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday in a game that wasnt decided until the last shot of the night. Mike Bibby Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario.Lewis Hamilton has called on Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo not to change their approach at the Brazilian GP in order to stay out of his title fight with Nico Rosberg. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly criticised Verstappen for banging wheels with Rosberg at the Mexican GP two weeks ago and has been strongly rebuked by Red Bull for subsequently calling the teenagers father, Jos, to warn of the perils of the youngster interfering in the championship fight.Wolff calls Jos Verstappen about Max But Hamilton, who will start Sundays race on pole with the fourth-placed Verstappen lining up directly behind Rosberg on the grid, has made a call of a different kind by urging the Dutchman and Ricciardo to race as hard as ever.We are racing, insisted Hamilton. They dont owe me any favours and they dont owe Nico any favours. If it was me in their car Id be wanting to get the best result, get the best bonus, get the most points, be ahead of whoever you are racing against. Of course I would want to be racing hard.Although Hamilton has held a small but significant pace advantage over team-mate Rosberg this weekend, the Englishman has a vested interest in Red Bull becoming actively involved in the fight at the front on Sunday. Even if he were to win both of the final races this year, Hamilton would miss out on the title if Rosberg finishes in second place in both Brazil and the season-concluding Abu Dhabi GP. And while not going as far as to call on the Red Bulls to ease off, Rosberg has suggested they could adopt a more relaxed approach. It is normal for other drivers not to drive differently just because others drivers are driving for the championship because that is not their problem, said the championship leader.But we all need to try and drive within the limits, a lot of penalties have been given recently and that is why maybe it is worth them considering a half gear, or a half something more relaxed, could be the right direction.Hamilton takes pole ahead of Rosberg Mercedes boss Toto Wolff explains the reason behind his call to Jos Verstappen and why they discussed son Maxs approach to driving In any case, Wolffs plea to Verstappen has fallen on deaf ears - literally and metaphorically.dddddddddddd. The youngster has revealed he ignored the call to his father, telling Sky Sports I was watching TV and didnt want to be disturbed, and vowed not to change his approach when he faced reporters on Saturday night. We should race, everyone, said the 19-year-old. Up until the last they should still try and fight for first. Otherwise you are not a worthy world champion, are you?I am just here to focus on my job and that is to drive fast for Red Bull, not Mercedes.Verstappen, however, did stress that the situation surrounding Wolffs phone call had become all a bit blown up, with the Mercedes motorsport boss later insisting he hadnt warned Verstappen Snr to tell his son to stay out of the title fight.I think Max is a great driver, said Wolff. He has incredible skill. He is refreshing as a character. He is spontaneous, intelligent. I am a really big fan and he is just what the doctor ordered for Formula 1The last thing he will do is change his approach. I did not say for him to move out of the way, or race in a different way.What I was discussed with Jos were two things. First of all I felt that, unfortunately for Max, there was a negative spin from some of the media around his driving, which I said was unjustified in my eyes. I did it only out of sympathy from Max and Jos, and nothing else. I felt that him [Jos] being at the races was an important factor. It was my personal opinion, not as somebody from Mercedes, but just part of a personal conversation I would have had with him regularly. And he acknowledged.Number two was its three races to the end and if an accident would happen with Lewis or Nico its something that would add to some of the negative spin in the media, and I think this can be avoided. Just to consider that for Max that is not as important as the other two. We are in a very fortunate position that whoever wins [the title] is going to be a Mercedes, its obviously different for Max.Dont miss the Brazilian GP on Sunday evening. The race is live at 4pm on Sky Sports F1; Watch with a NOW TV day pass - £6.99, no contract Also See: Hamilton beats Rosberg to pole The Formula 1 Gossip column Whens the Brazilian GP on Sky F1? Get a Sky Sports weekend pass ' ' '