RECAP - Pirates - 10 / Padres - 1

Francisco Liriano Looks to Ignite the Pirates vs the Reds

Pittsburgh Pirates - 10
San Diego Padres - 1

WP - Cole
LP - Kennedy

Sometimes following the fan base of the Pittsburgh Pirates reminds me of a scene from one of my all time favorite movies "Dumb and Dumber".  If the Pirates happen to lose a couple games (maybe even 3 in a row) the world is about to end, but then a 10-1 victory just makes everything okay again.  Its the scene that everyone knows where after Lloyd drives the wrong way and returns to tell Harry that he sold the van for a scooter and Harry's response is the classic line: "Right when I thought you can't be any dumber...you go and do something like THIS, and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!"  Those are Pirates fans in a nutshell, well maybe not all fans but most.  They get mad, but when the team wins they are on Cloud 9!!  I get frustrated, don't let this come off as me saying that I don't get frustrated.  This team might be one of the more frustrating teams that I can recall EVERY watching, but fans need to see the reality in the situation...that being that at the close of business yesterday the Pirates were only 1 game out of first place in the NL Central race.

The Pirates treated the Padres the way they SHOULD have treated the Padres the entire 4 game series, but even with a blown save the night prior, the Pirates hopefully have started righting the ship as the Reds come to town for the final 3 games at PNC Park this regular season.  Yes, the ball park will be packed, the ball park will be buzzing, and I pray that the Pirates do the unthinkable and sweep the Reds to propel them not only into the playoffs but in prime real estate to take the Central crown.  The Pirates "magic number" for clinching a playoff birth is now 4.  Taking 2 of 3 from the Reds would do just fine for me, and the pitching matchups look like ones to remember.  Take a look at these 3 huge matchups:

Tonight - Liriano vs Latos (These 2 pitchers combine for 30 wins on the season)
Saturday - Burnett vs Bailey
Sunday - Locke vs Arroyo

These 3 games are more than just the final home games of the season...these games carry with them a great amount of weight in who will come out on top in the NL Central race and who will clinch the top Wild Card spot to host a "play in" game.  I know, I know, I didn't really recap the Pirates win over the Padres, but to me thats old news.  The news is the upcoming series against the much maligned Cincinnati Reds.  Lets hope the Pirates show up in a big way and Raise that Jolly Roger!!