By Kevin Kernan
October 2, 2013
Russell Martin, who plays hero on offense, is just the second Pirate to hit two HRs in a postseason game. (USATSI)
PITTSBURGH — There are some new Pirates, and a 10th Pirate, and that made all of the difference Tuesday night at PNC Park after 21 years of a franchise being shipwrecked.
One of America’s most beautiful ballparks became America’s loudest ballpark as the 40,487 fans were so into it they unnerved Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto to such an extent that the Reds walked the wild-card plank, getting blasted 6-2 by the Pirates.
Two ex-New Yorkers were in the middle of this Pirates’ resurgence as Marlon Byrd, traded from the Mets to the Pirates in late August, and Russell Martin, a catcher the Yankees let walk away in free agency, both homered in the second inning against Cueto.
Martin also homered in the seventh, a monster 418-foot shot. Martin became just the second Pirate in team history to record a multi-home run game in the postseason.
Monday Martin told The Post he lives for these big games and Tuesday night he delivered and now his Pirates move on to the NLDS to play the Cardinals on Thursday.
As champagne was being poured on his head in the Pirates clubhouse, Martin said, “I love the big moments, this is what you dream of as a kid, this is why you play the game. It’s not for stats. It’s to play to win and to play in front of such an awesome crowd tonight, that was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere.
“These fans have waited a long time for this, hopefully they can keep that same energy. We’re not done yet.’’
Byrd’s home run came in his first postseason at-bat after 1,250 regular-season games. Byrd had to play in the Caribbean this past winter to land a job with the Mets.
“He was ready,’’ Martin said. “His home run fired me up and got the crowd into it.’’
“I’m so thankful to the Mets for giving me a chance, and putting me here,’’ Byrd said. “Everything they did for me I will never forget. This is unbelievable.’’
Pirates’ fans have been waiting 21 years to get another shot across the bow at the postseason. This marked the largest crowd in PNC Park history. The fans came dressed in black as Pirates players requested on Twitter.
“The park showed up tonight,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “It was electric, the biggest buzz, my ears are still ringing.’’
After Byrd homered to make him 8-for-12 lifetime against Cueto, the fans went wild. With Martin at the plate, they began a mocking chant of the Reds pitcher, yelling, “Cue-to! Cue-to!’’
That chant got to the right-hander. As he stood on the mound, he lost his concentration and dropped the ball. He picked it up and the chant became louder. I have never heard an outdoor ballpark so loud, and on the next pitch to Martin, the clutch-hitting catcher drove the ball into the left-field stands for a 2-0 lead.
Bedlam.
“I’ve never seen a crowd get to a pitcher where he dropped the ball and he made a mistake with the next pitch,’’ Martin said.
With the Yankees sitting at home, Martin said Derek Jeter’s words stuck with him: “You have 162 games of practice before you get to the real games.’’
With each big play there was a huge roar and Jolly Roger flags waved. There were hundreds of fans standing and watching the game on the Clemente Bridge, from which a skull and crossbones flag hung.
This a fabulous football city, but the Steelers are 0-4. The Pirates’ success could not come at a better time, and their fans came with a football attitude.
Pirates starter Francisco Liriano, signed as a free agent for two years at $12.75 million, was dominating.
Back high above home plate are five huge gold and black flags painted on the wall, each one representing a Pirates World Series team, the last flag raised in 1979.
Hurdle said his vision of success doesn’t stop with this wild-card win.
‘It’s a sixth World Series Championship,’’ he said.
Dream big Pirates, dream big. Raise the Jolly Roger.
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