Diary of a series clinching road trip:

9:45 a.m. Friday-Arrive at Sky Harbor where I’m sharing a flight with several Cubs fans. All have their heads at a permanent 45 degree angle towards the floor.

3:30 p.m.-Check in at the team hotel. The only thing bigger than the bags under my eyes are the bags in the hands of the players’ wives from shopping on Michigan Ave. all day.

9:00 p.m.-Host The 620 Sportsline from the studios of WGN. During the show the Yankees lose to Cleveland. Internal celebration begins. Good show, callers agree it’s Livan Hernandez’ turn to step up and that starting Brandon Webb on short rest would be a panic move by the D-backs.

12:30 p.m. Saturday-Arrive at Wrigley Field. See just as many Notre Dame t-shirts as I do Cubs t-shirts. Apparently these people are addicted to mediocrity.

12:45 p.m.-Walk the concourse of Wrigley. The smell of grilling sausages masks the odor of the old ballpark, which is roughly the equivalent of a decades old urinal.

5:07 p.m.-First pitch of the ballgame is deposited in the left field seats by D-backs outfielder Chris Young. Cubs pitcher looks like a 17 year old kid trying to work up the guts to ask the hot chick to the prom. Very nervous. Cubs fans are very quiet.

5:25 p.m.-Alfonso Soriano walks to lead off the Cubs first inning. Cubs fans act as if they’ve just won the power ball.

5:32 p.m.-Aramis Ramirez strikes out looking with runners at first and second to end the inning. Booing commences.

6:00 p.m.-Livan Hernandez is making me tired watching him get into/out of jams.

6:45 p.m.-Key moment in game. Cubs trailing 3-1. Livan Hernandez has walked the bases loaded. Mark DeRosa is up and is ahead in the count 3-1. Cubs fans are breaking the decibal meter. DeRosa grounds into double play, the third double play hit into by Cubs tonight. Cubs fans officially give up on team/season.

7:00 p.m.-Very next half inning Eric Byrnes hits a two out homer to up lead to 4-1. Fan in stands yells out “Hey DeRosa! Did you see what he did?!?”

8:00 p.m.-Standing in line to get into D-Backs clubhouse and interview the winners. For the players safety there are goggles in a box to your left as you walk in. Apparently the champagne really burns when it gets in your eyes.

8:03 p.m.-Champagne really burns when it gets in your eyes.

8:05 p.m.-Edgar Gonzalez has perfected the art of holding four beer cans in one hand at the same time and dumping them all on a teammates head. Don’t try this at home; he’s a professional.

-20-year-old Justin Upton has four cans of beer dumped on his head by aforementioned Gonzalez.

9:15 p.m.-Diamondtalk begins. Take a call from Seattle congratulating manager Bob Melvin on his season. That fan believes Melvin got a raw deal with the Mariners.

11:25 p.m.-Get a text from a friend who reminds me that Doug Davis had more RBI in this series than Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrick Lee combined.

12:00 a.m.-Bump into a couple of the players at the hotel. One of the wives asks me what I think about D-backs/Rockies series. Don’t have heart to tell her I’ll probably pick Rockies in six. Tonight it doesn’t matter, I say.

Comments? Reach Dave Burns at dburns@ktar.com.