Home plate umpire Mike DiMuro calls Chicago Cubs' Nate Schierholtz out at home as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin shows DiMuro the ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) by Andrew Seligman AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — The long wait is over, Pittsburgh. Your Pirates are finally headed back to the postseason. After a 21-year absence, the Pirates clinched at least a National League wild card Monday night when they beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 and the Washington Nationals lost to St. Louis. Now, they can turn their attention toward bigger goals, the kind that seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream through all those losing seasons.
Marlon Byrd waits his turn during batting practice before a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright) WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates aren't wasting any time putting newly acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd to work. Byrd will bat cleanup on Wednesday night when the Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers. Pittsburgh acquired Byrd and catcher John Buck from the New York Mets on Tuesday hoping to bolster its offense as the franchise searches for its first playoff berth in 21 years. The 35-year-old Byrd says he was a little stunned about the trade, which came on the same day the Mets were giving fans at Citi Field T-shirts celebrating Byrd's tremendous season. Byrd joked he didn't even pick up a T-shirt before joining Buck for the six-hour drive from New York to Pittsburgh. Byrd says he has some unfinished business of his own. The 12-year veteran is still waiting to make his playoff debut.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) delivers during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Pittsburgh Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) PITTSBURGH (AP) - At 36 and the owner of two World Series rings, A.J. Burnett says he no longer cares about personal statistics. "It's all about the team," the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander said. "We've got something special really special going on here." Burnett, however, admitted it was nice to get a win Sunday. He hasn't had too many of them this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) sits in the dugout during a baseball game against the New York Mets in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) MIAMI (AP) — For the third straight season, the Pittsburgh Pirates are approaching baseball's trade deadline as buyers. And they're finding that they're not alone.
Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker celebrate after Alvarez scored on a single by Travis Snider and Walker scored on an error by Los Angeles Angels' J.B. Shuck during the 10th inning of their baseball game, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) by Joe Resnick ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pedro Alvarez homered for the fourth straight game, Starling Marte capped a three-run ninth inning with a tying single, and the Pittsburgh Pirates added four more in the 10th to beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-9 on Sunday and complete their first interleague sweep on the road. Trailing 6-3 entering the ninth, the Pirates pulled even against closer Ernesto Frieri — his second blown save in 19 attempts.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, right, hits a two-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, June 8, 2013, in Chicago, Ill. (AP photo/Joe Raymond) CHICAGO (AP) — A.J. Burnett pitched into the ninth inning and Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Starling Marte, left, Travis Snider, center, and Andrew McCutchen celebrate after a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field,...
HOT HITTER--Pittsburgh Pirates' Russell Martin, right, is congratulated by teammate John McDonald after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) by R.B. Fallstrom ST. LOUIS (AP) — It was a milestone day for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who took the NL Central lead for the first time since last July and reached 15 wins in April for the first time since 1992.
