CHICAGO - The Pittsburgh Pirates are headed to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, clinching at least a National League wild card Monday when they beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 and the Washington Nationals lost to St. Louis.
It will be Pittsburgh’s first trip to the postseason since Barry Bonds, Jim Leyland and Co. won three consecutive NL East titles in 1990-1992. Bonds then left for San Francisco as a free agent, and the small-budget Pirates piled up 20 consecutive losing records - the longest streak in the four major professional sports.
Starling Marte hit a tie-breaking home run in theninth inning at Wrigley Field, and the Pirates threw out a runner at the plate for the final out.
“Twenty-one years since we popped champagne in a Pirates clubhouse,” Manager Clint Hurdle said, “and we’re acting like it’s been a long time.”
The Pirates doused each other in champagne in the visitors’ clubhouse once St. Louis’ 4-3 victory over the Nationals became final.
The Cincinnati Reds also clinched at least a wild-card berth, when they beat the New York Mets 3-2 in 10 innings. The Pirates and Reds, both 90-67, trail St. Louis by two games in the NL Central with five to go.
The Pirates snapped a 1-1 tie when Marte sent a drive off Kevin Gregg (2-6) with two outs in the ninth into the left field bleachers.
They preserved the victory on the final out when center fielder Andrew McCutchen picked up Ryan Sweeney’s bloop single after the ball hit off right fielder Marlon Byrd’s glove and threw to first baseman Justin Morneau, positioned just in front of home plate. Morneau made the relay to catcher Russell Martin, who applied the tag on Nate Schierholtz. Schierholtz had tried to score from first base.
Still on his knees, Martin held the ball over his head in jubilation.
Jason Grili grabbed Martin, having escaped with his 32nd save in 34 chances.
The Cubs tied it in the eighth off Mark Melancon (3-2).
Marte’s 12th home run set off loud boos for Gregg (2-6), who was almost released last week after going on a rant to reporters when he thought he had lost the closer’s job to Pedro Strop.
Neil Walker homered against Jeff Samardzija in the first to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead, and Charlie Morton pitched three-hit ball over seven scoreless innings before the Cubs tied it against Melancon.
Brian Bogusevic led off the eighth with a single, his second hit, and moved up on a groundout by Darwin Barney. Then, after a wild pitch, he scored the tying run on a single by pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy.
That spoiled a terrific start for Morton, who struck out five and walked one.
Samardzija was almost as good, allowing 1 run and 5 hits over 6 inninngs. He struck out 7 and walked 4 after going 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in his previous four starts.
REDS 3, METS 2 (10) Shin-Soo Choo drove in the winning run with a single off the wall in the 10thinning, and host Cincinnati secured a playoff spot moments after beating New York. Second-place Cincinnati clinched at least an NL wild card when Washington lost to first-place St. Louis 4-3 just a few minutes after the Reds’ game ended. Cincinnati Manager Dusty Baker said there would be no celebration of a wild-card clinching, not with a second consecutive NL Central title still in play.
BREWERS 5, BRAVES 0 Marco Estrada (7-4) pitched seven innings, Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy hit home runs and visiting Milwaukee beat Atlanta. The NL East champion Braves began the night with the league’s best record, 1½ games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals.
CARDINALS 4, NATIONALS 3 Carlos Beltran hit a home run, Adam Wainwright earned his 18th victory and host St. Louis beat Washington, eliminating the Nationals from playoff contention. Looking for their first NL Central title since 2009, the Cardinals maintained a two-game lead over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh and reduced their magic number to four.
MARLINS 4, PHILLIES 0 Nathan Eovaldi (4-6) pitched into the eighth inning to help host Miami beat Philadelphia. Justin Ruggiano drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning and the Marlins scored three runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Donovan Solando and Ed Lucas and a sacrifice fly by Christian Yelich.
AMERICAN LEAGUE TWINS 4, TIGERS 3 (11) Josmil Pinto hit anRBI single in the 11th inning and host Minnesota overcame 12 strikeouts by Justin Verlander to beat Detroit. Brian Dozier led off the ninth with a tying home run against previously perfect closer Joaquin Benoit, then opened the 11th with a single off Luke Putkonen (1-2) before advancing on a wild pitch. Pinto punched a single to right field to give Manager Ron Gardenhire his 998th career victory.
RANGERS 12, ASTROS 0 Alex Rios hit for the cycle, Derek Holland (10-9) struck out nine in his second shutout of the season and host Texas started their final push for a playoff spot with a victory over Houston. The Rangers pulled within a game of idle Cleveland for the second AL wildcard berth with six games remaining.
RAYS 5, ORIOLES 4 Wil Myers tied it with a two-run single on a jarring play in the seventh inning then pinch-hitter James Loney stunned visiting Baltimore with a leadoff home run in the ninth, and Tampa Bay completed a four-game sweep all but eliminated the Orioles from the wildcard race. The Orioles also lost All-Star third baseman Manny Machado to a leg injury in the top of the seventh. Machado’s left leg buckled when he stepped on first base running out an infield single. He was taken off on a stretcher.
BLUE JAYS 3, WHITE SOX 2 Jose Quintana (9-6) threw 7 1/3 strong innings, Marcus Semien hit a two-run home run and Avisail Garcia added a home run to lead host Chicago to a victory over Toronto.
Monday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Milwaukee 5, Atlanta 0 Cincinnati 3, NY Mets 2 (10) Miami 4, Philadelphia 0 Pittsburgh 2, Chicago Cubs 1 St. Louis 4, Washington 3 San Diego 4, Arizona 1 AMERICAN LEAGUE Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 4 Texas 12, Houston 0 Minnesota 4, Detroit 3 (11) Chicago White Sox 3, Toronto 2 Oakland at LA Angels, (n) Kansas City at Seattle, (n)
Sports, Pages 15 on 09/24/2013