(Photo Credit: AP Photo /Pablo Martinez Monsivais )
The Pittsburgh Pirates (94 – 68) are back in the postseason for the first time since 1992 as they will take on the Cincinnati Reds (90 – 72). Francisco Liriano (16 – 8, 3.02 ERA) will take on Pirate killer, Johnny Cueto (5 – 2, 2.82 ERA). This will be the first time PNC Park has seen postseason action and the first time Pittsburgh has seen a postseason game since October 11, 1992.
Hurdle’s Quotes
On emotions for tonight’s game last night– “I had a very trying evening. I helped Maddie with her 5th grade math homework and then I was challenged with two games of chess by my son, Christian who just joined the chess club two weeks ago and then it was the welcoming of family and friends coming in from different parts. I went to bed at 10:30 and got up at 6:15. I’m good to go.”
On Travis Snider making the postseason roster over Felix Pie — “All 35 guys that finished the season got considerations for some length of time. At the end of the day, Travis Snider has provided us with the most productive left-handed bat off the bench. The numbers, all-around batting average, the home runs, the RBI’s. He’s given us some big swings with the bat this year, so in loo of Felix pinch-running and playing defense, we felt inclined to select Travis.”
On the effects of using a strong end of the regular season to cruise into the postseason — “We’ll all find out when the game starts. We needed to play better after the San Diego series that we had here at home and they’ve had their way with us here the past few years and we needed to set down and readdress just some reminders and I thought everyone took it upon themselves professionally to get in a better place and a consistent place and we finished good, we finished competitively winning games we needed to win.
On the impact of Clint Barmes the past couple weeks — “Barmes has been an impact defender. Those that have watched our club this season, there’s games when he’s made some plays where nobody else would make those plays. He has also gotten inside of himself where he’s spent hour upon hour helping Jordy [Mercer] and Jordy has become a better defender shortstop because of Clint’s selflessness. He’s got some experience and he knows the value of an out.”
Other Notes
— Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are meeting in the postseason for the sixth time. The clubs also met in the N.L.C.S. in 1970 (Reds won 3 – 0), 1972 (Reds won 3 – 2), 1975 (Reds won 3 – 0), 1979 (Pirates won 3 – 0) and 1990 (Reds won 4 – 2).
— Under the guidance of pitching coach, Ray Searage, the Pirates pitching staff allowed the second fewest runs (577) in all of Major League Baseball in 2013. It’s the fewest runs allowed by the Pirates in a non-strike season since the 1984 team gave up just 567 in 162 games while posting a league-leading 3.11 ERA.
— For just the 12th time in the history of the club (since 1887), the Pirates produced six non-losing months of baseball over the course of the season (last time coming in 1992).
First pitch is set for 8:07 and will be telecasted on TBS.
