PITTSBURGH, Pa. (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates won their first playoff game since George H.W. Bush was in the White House and bounced the Reds from baseball’s post-season with a 6-2 win in the National League wild card game Tuesday night.
Russell Martin homered twice, Marlon Byrd also connected as the Pirates roared past Cincinnati in front of a black-clad crowd savoring its first postseason game since 1992. Andrew McCutchen added two hits and reached base four times for Pittsburgh.
Francisco Liriano scattered four hits over seven innings for the Pirates, who will face St. Louis in Game 1 of the NL division series Thursday. Liriano struck out five and walked one to win the first playoff game of his career.
Cincinnati starter Johnny Cueto struggled in his third start since coming off the disabled list last month. Cueto gave up four runs in 3 1-3 innings and appeared rattled by a raucous ballpark that taunted him throughout by chanting his name.