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 "Sometimes when you hit the ball on the screws it gives that
knuckleball effect," the Pirates right fielder said. "You can see
the outfielder moving side to side. It's tough."
Snider sympathized with Jay Bruce, but made no apologies after his
scalding line drive sailed past the Cincinnati Reds right fielder
for an RBI double, putting Pittsburgh ahead to stay in a 3-1 victory
in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
First baseman Gaby Sanchez homered for Pittsburgh (88-72), which
still trails the St. Louis Cardinals by one game in the National
League Central after the Cardinals beat Arizona Friday.
However, the Pirates clinched home-field advantage for the wild-card
game against the San Francisco Giants if the Pirates do not pass the
Cardinals. The Pirates' victory and the Giants' loss to San Diego
gave the Pirates a two-game lead over San Francisco with two games
left. The Giants can do no better than tie the Pirates, and
Pittsburgh owns the tie-breaker with a 4-2 season record against the
Giants. As a result, if the Giants and Pirates finish tied for the
wild-card spot, Pittsburgh would still host the wild-card game.
"For us it's all about winning ballgames," Snider said. "We've got
(game number) 161 tomorrow. That's what we're focused on."
The Pirates also increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over San
Francisco Giants for the first NL wild card spot, which would earn
them home-field advantage. That lead will either increase of
decrease by a half-game depending on the result of the Giants' game
against San Diego later Friday night. Pittsburgh owns the
tie-breaker with a 4-2 season record against the Giants, so if the
Giants and Pirates finish tied for the wild-card spot, Pittsburgh
would host the wild-card game.
"We can't control any of that, aside from staying focused on
winning," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.
Pittsburgh staged a two-out rally against right-hander Pedro
Villarreal (0-2) in the eighth inning on Friday.
Third baseman Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to a
career-high 14 games with a single, then scored from first when
Snider's liner skipped past Bruce in right and rolled to the wall
for a double, putting Pittsburgh ahead 2-1.
"That ball moved a couple different ways," said Hurdle. "That's a
very good right fielder, he went to the spot where he expected the
ball to be. It definitely was hit hard."
Said Bruce: "I just whiffed. He hit it hard and it's not the first
ball that knuckled, but as I planted to redirect, I slipped."
Center fielder Andrew McCutchen followed with a double, scoring
pinch runner Gregory Polanco to make the score 3-1.
Pittsburgh starter Vance Worley allowed nine hits but just one run
and did not walk a batter in 6 1/3 innings.
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"He was able to navigate around nine hits, that's a real nice job,"
Hurdle said.
Mark Melancon earned his 33rd save. Jared Hughes (7-5) got the
victory.
Reds starter Mike Leake allowed one run on just three hits in seven
innings with two walks and eight strikeouts for Cincinnati (74-86),
which is 10-7 against the Pirates this season.
"Leake did a pretty good job keeping the ball down, he made it tough
for us," said McCutchen, who went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Pirates left fielder Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to
11 games with a second-inning single, one of only two hits off Leake
through four innings.
Sanchez broke the scoreless tie with his seventh home run leading
off the fifth inning. His first homer since Aug. 14 came on Leake's
first offering and put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0.
Leake, whose 68 career hits are the most by any major league pitcher
since 2010, doubled and scored on third baseman Kris Negron's single
to tie the score 1-1 in the fifth.
NOTES: Pirates 1B Ike Davis was out of the lineup on Friday because
of flu-like symptoms. Gaby Sanchez started at first base. ...
Pirates LF Starling Marte's second-inning single extended his
hitting streak to 11 games. ... Pedro Alvarez, who was diagnosed
Sept. 11 with a stress fracture in a foot, has not resumed baseball
activity. The Pirates third baseman will be evaluated again Tuesday.
... Reds CF Billy Hamilton missed his second straight start with a
mild concussion suffered when he crashed into the wall making a
catch Wednesday night. ... Pirates utility man Josh Harrison, a
Cincinnati native, entered Friday's game with a 13-game hitting
streak and got a hit Friday to extend it to 14. ... The Cincinnati
Enquirer reported Friday that Reds general manager Walt Jocketty
agreed to a multiyear contract extension. Jocketty's three-year deal
was to expire at the end of this year.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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