Pirates advance behind Martin bombs!

The Pittsburgh Pirates used a strategy of hit the ball over the left field wall as Russell Martin homered twice and Marlon Byrd powered another homer as it was the Pirates winning the one game entry level round of the National League 6-2 over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.
Francisco Liriano was dazzling in earning the victory in allowing one run on four hits over seven innings.
The Pirates will now start in St.Louis Thursday for Game One of the NLDS against the Cardinals...

Pirate Hooks

1) I thought the Reds had the advantage in this game.
Not that I don't think highly of Francisco Liriano-I do,but Johnny Cueto had always pitched so well at PNC Park and his stuff ranks with the best in the game.
Cueto seemed rattled by the crowd and had issues keeping the ball down in the zone and left the game with less than four innings on the night...

2) Liriano was fabulous and I thought Ron Darling brought up an excellent point when he commented that part of what makes Liriano so effective was that he throws so hard (Mid 90's) yet uses his fastball less than anyone that he can remember that throws that hard.
It's true and I hadn't thought of it before....

3) Had to feel good for well traveled veteran Marlon Byrd for his homer in his first postseason at bat.
Byrd is in the middle of a career year and any time that a long time veteran gets to play in the playoffs,it is always nice...

4) The Byrd homer started things,but you could feel the excitement when Russell Martin hit his first homer later in the inning.
I thought PNC Park was going lift off into the river!
That is the type of environment that baseball sees in the playoffs but rarely in the regular season.
You just cannot have that type of energy every night over an 81 game home schedule,but boy when you have that,you just cannot beat it...

5) Now onto St.Louis and the Cardinals.
You would think the Pirates have a chance here,they know the Cardinals well and they have played well against them this season,but the Cardinals just might be the better team.
Better pitching and more experience makes me lean towards the Cardinals,but it's not lopsided enough that I would consider it an upset if Pittsburgh pulled this off...

6) Finally,its a good feeling for Pirates fans.
The team has been down so long and anytime that a streak that long is ended,the honeymoon is special.
Add to the fact that the favored team in town is 0-4 *snicker* and everyone around is a Pirates fan!
For those of us that have seen so much bad baseball,its terrific and anyone that is a true baseball fan has to feel good for us...

I might be back later with another post,but you will see me tonight with a recap of the Indians one game playoff against Tampa,where I will write more about one game playoffs and perhaps more about being an Pirates and Indians fan....


Photo Credit:Julia Rendleman-PGH Post-Gazette