CHICAGO — The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to the playoffs. No, you did not read that wrong, they are going to the National League playoffs. With their 2-1 victory tonight over the Chicago Cubs today, the Pirates will be playing in October for the first time since 1992.
The Pirates got on the board early, as the second batter of the game, Neil Walker, hit a solo home run. There wasn’t much for the Bucs offense after that until the top of the ninth inning, when Starling Marte had one of the bigger hits of the season for the Bucs. Marte’s solo homer came an inning after Mark Melancon blew the lead, and it might be the biggest hit in the youngster’s career.
Charlie Morton got the start for the Bucs, and pitched unbelievable. Through seven innings of work, Morton only allowed four base runners, while striking out five. He was pulled in the eighth inning for Melancon, who could not hang onto the lead. After Marte was able to give the Bucs the lead back in the top of the ninth, manager Clint Hurdle elected to do something we have never seen him do as the Pirates manager.
Almost everybody thought Jason Grilli was coming in for the save, but Hurdle decided to manage the game strategically, and went to Tony Watson for the first batter. Watson got Anthony Rizzo to ground out to lead off the inning, and Grilli came in to get the final two outs. After walking Dioner Navarro to lead off the inning, things got interesting at Wrigley Field. The next batter, Ryan Sweeney, sent a base hit into right field. The Cubs decided to waive pinch runner Nate Schierholtz home, and he was gunned out to end the game on a bang-bang play.
Just a few minutes after the Pirates beat the Cubs, the Cardinals finished off a victory over the Nationals to clinch the Pirates a playoff spot. The Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates are all going to the playoffs.
Tonight was a historic night. Watching the post game celebration with the Pirates popping champagne in the clubhouse was a thing of beauty, and this season just keeps getting better and better.
Photo Credit: USA TODAY
