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Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Central

Bucs beat Sox, 4-0

PITTSBURGH - Charlie Morton had no expectations when he took the mound in a major league game for the first time in a month.However, the Pittsburgh right-hander exceeded his manager's expectations as he came off the disabled list to gain his first victory since July 2, and the Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 4-0 on Tuesday night for their ninth win in 11 games."I just wanted to go out and give what I got," Morton said. "I didn't know what was going to happen. I'm glad with the way it turned out."Sidelined since Aug. 16 because of right hip inflammation and a sports hernia, Morton (6-12) ...

Here comes the BOOM

PITTSBURGH - There used to be a time - any year really between 1993-2012 - when reaching 81 wins would be cause for celebration for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Not anymore. These days the certainty of a non-losing season is nothing more than a speed bump on Pittsburgh's resilient quest for a playoff berth.Gregory Polanco, Neil Walker and Ike Davis all homered and the Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 9-1 on Wednesday night to maintain their grip on the second National League wild card spot.Polanco and Walker hit solo shots off Boston starter Clay Buchholz (8-9) and Davis drilled a three-run ...

Pirates get late break in playoff push, top Red Sox to win 11 of last 13

PITTSBURGH - It might be way too early to call the Pittsburgh Pirates a team of destiny. But after what manager Clint Hurdle witnessed Thursday night, he had to stop and wonder."Sometimes, you're just meant to win," he said.The Pirates got a lucky break when Boston pinch-runner Jemile Weeks was hit by a batted ball in the ninth inning, beating the Red Sox 3-2 to keep pace in the NL pennant race.The Pirates won their fourth in a row. They began the day 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot, and host the Brewers in a three-game series beginning Friday night.Down ...

GONE: Martin’s homer sparks Pirates over Brewers 4-2

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Russell Martin swatted at Jonathan Broxton's 96 mph fastball and watched as Carlos Gomez gave chase. When the ball cleared the fence just out of Gomez's reach, the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher thumped his chest as he rounded first base after providing the latest lightning bolt in a season full of them for one of baseball's most resilient teams."It's hard to be happier than that," Martin said.Buried in May, the Pirates are streaking toward October.Martin's three-run blast off Broxton with one out in the eighth inning ignited the Pirates to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee ...

Brewers edge Pirates 1-0 to tighten wild-card race

PITTSBURGH - Elian Herrera sprinted home on Logan Schafer's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Saturday night to tighten the race for the second National League wild-card spot.The Brewers overcame the ejection of starting pitcher Matt Garza and pulled within 3 1/2 games of the Pirates, winning for just the second time in their last 13 road games. Pittsburgh had won five in a row.Zach Duke (5-1), a former All-Star with the Pirates, picked up the victory after getting the final out of the eighth. Francisco Rodriguez worked a ...

Cards hit 3 HRs, top Reds, move closer to playoffs

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Tony Cruz hit a three-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals connected three times, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Saturday night and moving closer to their fourth straight playoff berth.The Cardinals cut their magic number to one for clinching a postseason berth. The magic number is six for their second NL Central title in a row.Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk also homered as St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games.Cincinnati has lost six in row and been outscored 30-8 in that stretch.Jason Motte (1-0) needed just three pitches and one out to earn the win. ...