CINCINNATI (AP) ― Hundreds of Pirates fans stood, twirled their towels and chanted “Let’s Go Bucs!” as Jay Bruce hit a grounder for the final out, setting up a playoff game in Pittsburgh.
Baseball, this time.
Neil Walker hit two of Pittsburgh’s six homers ― its biggest power surge in six years ― and the Pirates clinched home-field advantage for the NL’s wild card playoff game by beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 Saturday.
Pittsburgh will host the Reds on Tuesday night in the Pirates’ first playoff appearance in 21 years. Pittsburgh went 50-31 at PNC Park, the third-best home record in the NL, and wanted to make that long-awaited playoff return at home.
They got what they wanted. The postseason will start at PNC Park.
“It’s going to be a really exciting time,” Walker said. “Something a lot of people haven’t experienced with Pirate baseball. I imagine it’s going to be Steeler-esque on Tuesday.”
The Reds will go with Johnny Cueto (5-2) in the one-game playoff against left-hander Francisco Liriano (16-8). Mat Latos was on schedule to start for Cincinnati, but manager Dusty Baker said he’s developed a sore arm.
The Pirates won five of nine games against the Reds at PNC Park this season.
“The important thing for me is getting the guys home and playing in a park where we won 50 games and giving our fans a taste of postseason baseball,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Rangers stay alive for wild card
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― Joe Nathan feels like the Texas Rangers have been playing elimination games for a week.
Now they are down to the regular season’s scheduled finale, still with a chance to get into the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
A rain-drenched Nathan struck out Howie Kendrick with two runners on and the infield flooding to close out the Rangers’ sixth straight victory, and second in less than 24 hours. They beat the sloppy Los Angeles Angels 7-4 on Saturday.
Cleveland 5, Minnesota 1
Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 2
San Diego 9, San Francisco 3
Seattle 7, Oakland 5
Milwaukee 4, NY Mets 2
St. Louis 6, Chicago Cubs 2
Baltimore 6, Boston 5
Chicago White Sox 6, Kansas City 5
Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 4
NY Yankees 2, Houston 1
Miami 2, Detroit 1
Washington 2, Arizona 0
Colorado 1, LA Dodgers 0