Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen reacts after getting walked against the Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati Friday night. Matt Freed /Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Pirates are one win away from securing home-field advantage in next week playoff game after defeating the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 in a best out of three series.
The Pirates took over early in Game 1 with several base hits in the early innings, then following up with some power hitting. Marlon Byrd had three hits and Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer high off the batter’s eye on Friday night to start the series.
According to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “The Pirates need to win one of their remaining two games against the Reds to ensure that they will be the host of a one-game wild-card playoff Tuesday night at PNC Park. ”
In the video below, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen talks about his team’s series against the Reds:
“That should be motivation to go out there and win,” McCutchen said. “Try to make it easy. Don’t wait until the last game, just go ahead and try to do it tomorrow.”
