Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
'Cueto!': Looking back at Pirates' 2013 NL Wild Card victory | TribLIVE.com
Pirates/MLB

'Cueto!': Looking back at Pirates' 2013 NL Wild Card victory

Triblive
7787913_web1_trib-6c2yepp3w1f1bz1lg47a_original
TribLive
A Pirates fan waves the Jolly Roger in the National League Wild Card playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 at PNC Park.
7787913_web1_PTR-Bucs44-100213
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen beats the throw for an infield single in the third inning of the National League Wild Card playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at PNC Park.
7787913_web1_PTR-Bucs-Byrd01-100313
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pirates right fielder Marlon Byrd hits a solo home run against the Reds during the National League Wild Card playoff game on Oct. 1, 2013 at PNC Park.

Clint Hurdle called it one of the best days of his life.

Many of the thousands of Pirates fans who filled PNC Park 11 years ago have a similar feeling as the then-Bucs manager.

Tuesday is the anniversary of the 2013 National League Wild Card game between the Pirates and visiting Cincinnati Reds.

It has sparked vivid memories for Pirates fans of all generations:

• The “Blackout” crowd of 40,487 fans that included hundreds of standing-room only spectators and was the largest in PNC Park history.

7787913_web1_trib-6c2z45v70yr1krikd47a_original
Chaz Palla | TribLive
Fans celebrate the Pirates win over the Reds in the National League Wild Card playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 at PNC Park.

• Dozens of others lining the Roberto Clemente Bridge hoping to get a glimpse of a playoff baseball atmosphere that hadn’t been witnessed in two decades.

• Starter Francisco Liriano, making his third career postseason appearance, holding the Reds to one run and four hits over seven innings with five strikeouts.

• Catcher Russell Martin’s two solo home runs, including a seventh-inning blast that marked the first time the Pirates hit three homers in a playoff game at home since Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

7787913_web1_ptr-bucs14-100213
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pirates catcher Russell Martin crosses homeplate after hitting a home run during the second inning of the National League Wild Card playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at PNC Park.

• And, of course, Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto dropping the ball on the mound after allowing a second-inning homer to Marlon Byrd and then giving up a solo shot to Martin as fans serenaded him with chants of “Cue-to, Cue-to!”

• Closer Jason Grilli giving Martin a bear hug after securing the final three outs.

7787913_web1_ptr-bucs69-100213
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pirates closer Jason Grilli and catcher Russell Martin celebrate after the final out in the ninth inning of the National League Wild Card playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at PNC Park.

The Pirates beat the Reds, 6-2, in the winner-take-all game to advance to the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. The Pirates lost that five-game series 3-2.

The 2013 NL wild-card game remains the only postseason round the Pirates have won since the 1979 World Series.

7787913_web1_ptr-bucs45-100213
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen scores a run during the third inning of the National League Wild Card playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at PNC Park.

Relive the moment in this TribLive game story and commentary and a day-after feature chronicling one of the most memorable games in Pirates history.

Watch the game here.

7787913_web1_ptr-decadephotos003-010120
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pirates players douse manager Clint Hurdle with champagne after winning the National League Wild Card game on Oct. 1, 2013, at PNC Park. Hurdle was named the Sporting News Manager of the Year.

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Categories: Pirates/MLB | Sports | Top Stories
Sports and Partner News