Cubs edge the Cardinals.(Chicago Tribune)

CHICGAO _ The record book doesn't have to be rewritten. It still says the last time the St. Louis Cardinals concluded a four-game sweep in Chicago was May 29, 1921.

Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez made sure of that Sunday when his eighth-inning bloop single brought in the winning run in a 5-4 victory at Wrigley Field.

"Nobody wants to get swept in any series," Gonzalez said. "With the rivalry_the history_between these two teams, you can be sure none of us wanted to lose four in a row."

Added Joe Girardi, who had a two-run double in the second inning, "I grew up a Cubs fan among all those Cardinals fans in Peoria. I'm sure my dad is happy we won and avoided the sweep."

But until Angel Echevarria led off the eighth with the home run that tied the score 4-4, left-hander Chuck Finley and the Cardinals appeared headed for just that feat.

Finley struck out 12 in seven innings to improve his career strikeout total to 2,594, passing Warren Spahn for 16th place on the all-time list.

Echevarria, subbing for the injured Sammy Sosa, said he was thinking of his three previous at-bats when he led off the eighth.