David Zalubowski / AP

Colorado Rockies players celebrate after sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

From Chris Young’s home run on the very first pitch, Game 3 on Saturday in Wrigley Field went Arizona’s way — pretty much like the rest of the series.

The Cubs did lead briefly in Game 2, when Geovany Soto — the only discernible semblance of offense for the Cubs — belted a two-run homer off Doug Davis in the second inning. But that was quickly erased, and it was clear to see that the younger, less-experienced, smaller-payroll Diamondbacks were the better team.

While the Cubs’ highly-paid stars struggled — Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-14, Aramis Ramirez was 0-for-12 and neither drove in a run — the Diamondbacks’ emerging stars such as Young, shortstop Stephen Drew and third baseman Mark Reynolds hit impact home runs.

In fact, the Diamondbacks regularly put four players with less than two years of big-league experience on the field in Young, Drew, Reynolds and first baseman Conor Jackson, and half of their right-field platoon is multi-talented Justin Upton, who just turned 20.

They are a younger version of the Rockies in terms of position players, but with a more accomplished and veteran-laded pitching staff led by Cy Young Award candidate Brandon Webb.

And adding to this matchup, three of the Diamondbacks’ top front office personnel — general manager Josh Byrnes, special assistant Bob Gebhard and major-league scout Jerry Dipoto have strong Rockies’ ties.

“We are two teams with a lot of younger players, with veterans that have helped them move things along,’’ Hurdle said. “We’ve both done things the old-fashioned way, showed a lot of patience, and it takes courage to have patience. We’ve both taken our lumps.

“They’ve had more success than us in the past, and that always was a little rock in our shoe that we’ve had to wear. So now the opportunity to play them in the NLCS is going to be special.’’

More news

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Who deserves some early awards?

DeMarco: David Wright's hot bat — he's hitting .405 — makes him the pick for NL MVP thus far. But that's just for starters in our feature.

Pujols homers, Angels rally past Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) - Pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run single off Seattle closer Brandon League, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 6-4 win over the Mariners on Friday night.

Headlines

• Label

Pirates blank Cubs for 10th straight loss

Joyce, Rays slam Red Sox  |  HBT: Benches clear

Nats handle Braves, extend NL East lead

Rangers crush Jays behind Cruz's 8 RBI

Yankees homer past Athletics, 6-3

White Sox stay hot as Dunn hits 15th HR

Stanton 1st player to hit Marlins' sculpture

HBT: Hamilton homers for first time since May 12