Pittsburgh Pirates' Neil Walker hits the game-wining home run in the tenth inning of an opening day baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, March 31, 2014, in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 1-0 in ten innings. Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP
PITTSBURGH --- Neil Walker’s 2013 season couldn’t have ended any worse. His 2014 season couldn’t have started any better.
The second baseman was dreadful as the Pirates lost to the Cardinals in last year’s National League Division Series. The Pine-Richland High School graduate was 0-for-19 during the five-game series.
No wonder Walker was having flashbacks to last October when he went hitless in his first three at-bats of the new season Monday.
“It felt like a rollover from last year,” Walker said.
But Walker ended up being the hero when he led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run to give the Pirates a 1-0 victory over the Cubs in a taut opener at PNC Park. It was the first walk-off hit of his six-year career.
“This one feels pretty special,” Walker said.
Context is what made the home run so memorable, not only coming on opening day but during an afternoon when the Pirates had one final celebration of their magical 2013 season. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen received his NL MVP award, Clint Hurdle received his NL Manager of the Year award, McCutchen and third baseman Pedro Alvarez received their NL Silver Slugger awards and left-hander Francisco Liriano was acknowledged for winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year award while warming up in the bullpen.
Liriano pitched like a Cy Young award candidate Monday, pitching six scoreless innings and striking out 10 while looking like the pitcher who won 16 games a year ago.
“Frank was awfully good,” Hurdle said.
In the end, though, it was the guy who grew up rooting for the Pirates through so many awful seasons that sent the crowd of 39,833 into delirium.
“This is a special day for this team, this organization,” Walker said. “We’ve come a long way. The last 20 years have been a tough thing. To get to where were are is pretty amazing. Special moments like today, being part of a pre-game like that and having a finish like that is pretty special.”
Gallery
A paratrooper with an American flag descends onto PNC Park during opening day ceremonies before the baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs on Monday, March 31, 2014, in Pittsburgh. Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP
Former Pittsburgh Pirates Dick Groat, left, Barry Bonds, second from left, Jack Wilson, center, present awards to Pittsburgh Pirates Andrew McCutchen, third from left, and Pedro Alvarez, third from right, with manager Clint Hurdle, second from right, and former Pirates manager Jim Leyland before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, March 31, 2014, in Pittsburgh. McCutchen was presented with the NL League MVP and Silver Slugger Award and Alvarez a Silver Slugger Award. (Keith Srakocic, AP / AP)
Nelson Liriano: 6 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 3 BBs, 10 SOs (Charles LeClaire, USA Today Sports)
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