Pirates Postseason Hopes in Sight as Vance Worley Fires Gem

Sep 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates fan John Kunel (L) receives a game used jersey from Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin (55) during a shirts off our backs promotion after the Pirates hosted the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. The Pirates won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Vance Worley came back to the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation with a vengeance as the Pirates postseason hopes got immensely brighter with a 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. .  Just six days after Charlie Morton was given the starting nod, Worley showed the Pirates what they were missing.  The Pirates postseason magic number was five coming into the game and thanks to eight shutout innings from their right hander, the magic number for the Pirates postseason ticket prices to start sky rocketing is now three.

The Brewers did everything possible to give the Bucs a victory including wild pitches, passed balls and a crucial TOOTBLAN by Carlos Gomez.  The Pirates were finally able to cash in and remarkably were involved in yet another one run game, this time the Pirates were on the winning side.  The Pirates were riding all infield singles off Brewers stud Wily Peralta until Russell Martin drove in Andrew McCutchen with an opposite field single in the seventh inning.

Even though the Pirates offense took the series off,  The starters had their back including Worley who was pushed out of the way when Charlie Morton fired five shutout innings six days ago.  The Vanimal fired first pitch strike after first pitch strike against a struggling Brewers offense.

Sep 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Vance Worley (46) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Worley was lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth after giving up just four hits, getting 14 ground ball outs and striking out five.  Tony Watson escaped with his first save in large part thanks to an awful baserunning gaffe by Carlos Gomez who was thrown out trying to advance to third base on an infield single.

Sep 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez (27) is tagged out in a rundown by Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (5) during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pirates final seven games will be on the road with four at Atlanta and three to end the regular season at Cincy.  The ball club has been awful on the road this season, but the Bucs took care of business in 2014 by piling up wins at PNC Park.  The team set a franchise setting attendance record of 2,442,564.

After the game, skipper Clint Hurdle addressed the Pirates faithful.  A select few were receiving game worn jerseys from the players–I envy the fan that is taking home that Brent Morel jersey!