Ryan Braun's three-run home run in the eighth inning gave the Brewers all the distance they needed in a 4-1 victory over Florida Friday night at Miller Park, cutting their magic number to clinch the National League Central to 1. Then, only a few minutes later, the Cardinals fell to the Cubs, allowing the Brewers to clinch the NL Central title for the first time since 1982.

"I hoped to get an opportunity to clinch like that," said a shaky Braun on the field, waiting for the Cubs-Cardinals game to conclude. 

Prince Fielder put the Brewers on the board first, belting a solo home run off Marlins starter Chris Volstad to lead off the second inning but the Brewers couldn't do any further damage, putting five men on base until the eighth.

Yovani Gallardo kept his team in it, working 7.1 innings, allowing just seven and striking out 11, becoming the first player in franchise history to record 10 or more strikeouts in three consecutive games. Francisco Rodriguez shut the door for the final two outs in the eighth inning.

Corey Hart's one-out double in the eighth was followed by a walk to Nyjer Morgan. Braun worked the count to 3-1 against Clay Hensley before belting a slider off the scoreboard in center field for his 32nd home run of the season.

John Axford closed out the game to tie a franchise record for saves in a single season with 44.

Meanwhile, not long after Braun's blast, the Cubs broke open a 1-1 game in St. Louis with a three-run home run by Alfonso Soriano. Almost all of the crowd of 44,504 remained in the stands while the final inning and a half of that game was broadcast on the scoreboard.

Once the Cardinals lost, and the clinch was official ... the party began.