Pirates Win Wild Card Matchup Against Reds – MLB Roundup For Oct. 2nd

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates enjoyed playing their first postseason game in 21 years so much, they'll get another chance to play October baseball.

The Pirates eliminated the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 in a one-game wild card playoff. They now get to play NL Central champion St. Louis in the best-of-five National League division series starting Thursday. The Pirates were 10-9 against the Cards this season.

The Pirates got on the board first with solo home runs from Marlon Byrd and Russell Martin in the second inning. Martin added a second round-tripper in the seventh inning for insurance. It's the Pirates' first postseason victory since 1992.

Pirates' 16-game winner Francisco Liriano (leer-ee-AH'-noh) stymied the Reds on the mound. He retired the first nine batters he faced and held the Reds to one run on four hits in his seven innings. Reds starter Johnny Cueto (KWAY'-toh) was hit hard. He allowed four runs on seven hits in his three and a-third innings.

The American League wild card game is Wednesday night in Cleveland as the Indians play host to Tampa Bay, which beat Texas Monday night in the wild card play-in game.

DETROIT (AP) — Max Scherzer will start Detroit's AL division series opener Friday night at Oakland, with star Justin Verlander following in Game 2. The 21-3 Scherzer was baseball's lone 20-game winner this year and started for the American League in the All-Star game. The Athletics have tabbed 40-year-old Bartolo Colon (bar-TOH'-loh koh-LOHN') as their Game 1 starter with rookie Sonny Gray going in Game 2.

The Tigers won the AL Central for a third straight year, thanks to an exceptionally deep rotation. Anibal (AH'-nih-bahl) Sanchez, the AL's ERA leader, won't pitch until Game 3 against the Athletics. Doug Fister starts Game 4. Jarrod Parker will pitch for Oakland in Game 3 in Detroit and Dan Straily goes in a potential Game 4 for the A's.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ned Yost (yohst) is coming back to manage the Kansas City Royals. He led the team to its best record in 24 years and for that the club has rewarded him with a two-year contract extension. The Royals finished third in the American League Central with a mark of 86-76 this season. Down the stretch after the All-Star break the Royals were 43-27.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees want Joe Girardi to return as manager next season.

Girardi was hired after the 2007 season, and his contract expires at the end of October. Crippled by injuries, New York had its poorest record since 1992 and finished tied for third in the AL East at 85-77.

NEW YORK (AP) — Fewer fans went to Major League Baseball games this season. The average attendance fell 1.2 percent with the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies experiencing big drops.

Total attendance of 74.03 million was down from 75.86 million last season, but it was still the sport's sixth-highest.

The Marlins saw a 29 percent fall-off in attendance, from 2.2 million last year to just 1.6 million in a season in which the club lost 100 games.

The Phillies lost more than a half million fans in total attendance, falling to just over 3 million in a year in which the team had its worst record since 2000.

The Los Angeles Dodgers led the majors with 3.7 million fans showing up at the ballpark.

NEW YORK (AP) — The major league batting average dropped to .253 this season, its lowest level since hitters combined for a .244 average in 1972.

This year's average was down from a recent peak of .270 in 1996.

The big league earned run average of 3.86 was at its low point since a 3.74 ERA in 1992, according to STATS. And the average of 4.17 runs per team per game was the smallest since 1992, while team strikeouts per game set a record at 7.55.