After a long slog through the regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals emerged victorious in the National League Central division, leaving the Cincinnati Reds to travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates in a one-game wildcard showdown. Live stream the game here; Reds fans can tune in to ESPN 1530, while Pirates fans can turn their radio dials to KDKA-93.7.
Expect the Pirates faithful to be in a frenzy tonight at 8:07 p.m., as they cheer on their beloved Bucs in the first playoff appearance for the black and yellow in 21 years. The Pittsburgh Pirates have managed to shed their long-standing streak of futility to regain their former glory, much like tonight's starter Francisco Liriano.
"In the beginning, when people came here, it was more of a rehabilitation center," outfielder Andrew McCutchen said. "I mean it's true. Guys came here toward the end of their career, saying this is going to boost them up, maybe they can have a big year so they can go somewhere else."
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle praised Liriano as they head into this NL Central battle, saying, "He's a Pirate. There's a lot of Pirate in every guy in there. They've got a flawed manager though."
The Pirates will go up against Johnny Cueto tonight, who has owned Pittsburgh his entire career. He's 13-4 against the Buccos with a 2.37 ERA. "I don't know how to explain it," Cueto said. "I just do my job."
According to Hurdle though, this team has overcome so much adversity over the past few seasons that he thinks this group is primed for a World Series run.
"I think we're a perfect snapshot of our city," Hurdle said. "We're not perfect. We get down, we're going to get up. We get knocked down again, we're going to get up again.
Toppling the dominant Cueto would fit the narrative.
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