The Pittsburgh Pirates are headed back to the Major League Baseball playoffs for the second consecutive year after beating the Atlanta Braves 3-2.
Andrew McCutchen scored the winning run in the sixth inning as he reached base on all four of his at-bats for the Pirates, who clinched one of the wild card berths in the National League.
Travis Snider hit a home run and Starling Marte drove in the deciding run for the Pirates, who have won 11 of their last 13 games. Their latest win combined with Milwaukee’s loss to Cincinnati Tuesday gave them the playoff spot.
Pittsburgh reached the playoffs for the first time since 1992 last season.
“The second consecutive (playoff) season is so much better than the 18, 19, 20 years of consecutive losing,” said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. “So we’re onto something.”
Pitcher Gerrit Cole ended up getting the final 16 batters out that he faced after a slow start against the Braves.
McCutchen scored the game-winner after doubling to open the sixth and coming around when Marte smacked a low 1-2 pitch into the left field to snap a 2-2 deadlock.
“It’s what every team wants to do,” McCutchen said of making the playoffs. “We’ve still got some games left. We still actually have an opportunity to win the division, so this is just one step in that direction.”
Jared Hughes pitched a scoreless eighth behind Cole, and closer Tony Watson finished things off in the ninth inning to spark the celebration in the locker room. Watson earned his second save of the year.
Braves batter Freddie Freeman hit a double in the first inning to score Philip Gosselin, ending a streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings by Pittsburgh.
Pirates’ catcher Russell Martin had his 13-game hitting streak came to an end Tuesday, but his teammate Josh Harrison, extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Atlanta have scored just 17 runs over a disappointing 1-10 stretch that eliminated the club from postseason contention.
Pitcher Alex Wood took the loss after allowing seven hits and three runs over 6 2/3 innings.