CINCINNATI - Jay Bruce raised both index fingers as he rounded first base and took the final steps toward a long-awaited championship. Jubilant Reds teammates streamed toward the plate while fireworks went off overhead.

Fifteen years of futility had just ended with Bruce's dramatic swing.

Bruce homered on the first pitch from Tim Byrdak leading off the ninth inning Tuesday for a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros, securing an improbable NL Central title for a franchise that has gone through some of the worst times in its history.

Nine straight losing seasons. A 15-year playoff drought. All washed away with one home run and an eye-stinging clubhouse spray.

"There's nothing like it," said Bruce, who repeatedly got doused with bottles of Korbel champagne and 24-ounce cans of beer in the clubhouse.

The 23-year-old outfielder, part of Cincinnati's young nucleus, provided a fitting finish to the championship drive. Cincinnati has won 22 games in its last at-bat, second-most in the majors.

Drama found them all season as they got into contention early, then held off the heavily favored Cardinals in a tight-as-could be race.

"When he hit that one up there, there was a big sigh of relief and the party was on," manager Dusty Baker said. "I'm as happy as a man can be. This is sweet. This is a special group, special guys and a special feeling."

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With the latest title, Baker joined Bill McKechnie as the only managers to lead three different NL teams to the playoffs. Baker also has made it with the Giants and Cubs.

There could be more drama left.

Left-hander Aroldis Chapman (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth, topping out at 101 mph while showing playoff opponents the nasty stuff they can expect in a week or so.

The Reds sold 30,151 tickets for the clinching game — above-average for a cool September weeknight — and took the field almost tasting it. Second baseman Brandon Phillips said he doesn't drink and has never taken so much as a sip of champagne.

"I don't know how it's going to taste," Phillips said. "I don't know what's going to happen."

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Most Reds were novices at the sip-and-spray tradition. Four female fans in the upper deck wore shirts that, side-by-side, urged the home team to "Show Us The Bubbly."

The crowd was on its feet in the sixth, when the Reds loaded the bases with none out. Phillips tied it at 2 with an infield single to the hole at shortstop, but Bruce grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Bruce made up for it on his next swing. Byrdak (2-2) left his lone pitch right down the middle — a perfect spot to start a celebration.

"You never want to see that," Byrdak said. "We wanted to win all three games and make them clinch against somebody else."

Soon, the red carpeting on the home clubhouse floor was sopped for the first time since Great American Ball Park opened in 2003.

"We're not finished, but it doesn't get any better than this," said owner Bob Castellini, a box of cigars cradled in his left arm and a bottle of champagne in his right hand.

The Reds celebrated their title a day after Philadelphia clinched its fourth straight NL East title — no surprise there. The Reds' recent history made them a most unexpected playoff team.