Playoffs in sight, Pirates prep for pivotal series - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

Playoffs in sight, Pirates prep for pivotal series

Updated:

PITTSBURGH (AP) - With 22 victories somewhere between now and the end of the regular season, the Prates will secure their first winning season since 1992.

That's all well and good, of course. That streak is not one they are proud of, and is one that needed to end sooner rather than later.

But Pittsburgh is after much more this season. Under second-year manager Clint Hurdle, the Pirates are 60-44, in second place in the National League Central and just might be able to snare a playoff berth for the first time since that same 1992 season.

The Pirates can take a big step this weekend in Cincinnati. They will play the first-place Reds (64-41), who hold a 3 ½ game advantage over Pittsburgh, in a battle of 2 of the NL's more impressive teams this season. Cincinnati has won 9 of its last 10 games, and three in a row. Pittsburgh has won 6 of their last eight.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WFMJ. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms