By JOE KAY
Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — They lost on the field, fought in the dugout, fell out of contention before the season’s midpoint. Then, the Chicago Cubs did something that defied their long history of failure and disappointment.

Somehow, they pulled together and won the division.

Chicago’s two biggest offseason investments took them the final step toward the playoffs on Friday night. Alfonso Soriano hit another leadoff homer, Carlos Zambrano kept his cool, and the Cubs clinched the NL Central with a 6-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

“Hopefully we can have a few more little parties like this,” said Lou Piniella, who enjoyed a champagne shower in his first season as the Cubs manager. “They’re fun.”

This celebration was so unexpected.

The Cubs invested $300 million in their roster in the offseason, a big-budget solution to their last-place finish in 2006. By June, it looked like a lousy business decision. Chicago was 8 1/2 games out on June 23, with long’suffering fans ready to write them off.

On Friday night, that $300 million paid a return: 30 cases of fine California champagne, sprayed giddily on everyone and everything in the visitors’ clubhouse at Great American Ball Park.

“I’m glad to be cold,” said reliever Scott Eyre, soaked through with champagne. “I don’t think anybody remembers last year.”

Instead, the reference point is 2003, the last time the Cubs made the playoffs. They reached the NL championship series under first-year manager Dusty Baker, only to collapse when a fan interfered with a foul ball in Game 6 against Florida.

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