The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the home team St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of their division series, wresting hometown advantage from the division winners.  The next two games are in Pittsburgh.  The first team to 3 wins wins it all.  Having taken a 9-1 defeat in the first game, the Pirates also won in convincing fashion, 7-1.

There were some Pirates fans in St. Louis (photo above) but also at PNC Park to watch the game together on the Jumbotron.  Here's a neat Post-Gazette story about how rooting for the Pirates in the post-season has finally become multi-generational.

The third game of the series is on Sunday at PNC Park.  The Pirates are sending their ace starting pitcher to the mound in a very big game.  Luriano is very good at home, but the Cards are countering with a pitcher who is very good on the road, and has specifically dominated the Pirates this year.  It will be pretty difficult for the Pirates to win this short series if they don't win this third game.  So both teams know the importance of this particular game.

The Pittsburgh fans will certainly be a factor, though hopefully not a negative one, as when two fans may have interfered with balls hit in the 9th inning of the Reds game, perhaps leading to a home run and a double that could have been consequential.  This is the Pirates' best shot at taking real control of this series.