ASS News » Park to clinch home-field advantage in the wild card

CINCINNATI - After a sizzling surge toward the top, the Pirates lost one that they really could have used for a shot at the title.The Pirates NL Central chances suffered a setback when Todd Frazier had a tying two-run homer in the seventh inning and Ramon Santiago hit a grand slam in the 10th, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 10-6 victory on Saturday.Pittsburgh started the day a game behind first-place St. Louis and could have pulled into a tie with a win. The Cardinals lost at Arizona 5-2 later Saturday. Instead, it comes down to the final day of the regular season on Sunday.Even if they fail to win the division title, the Pirates have already clinched at least a wild card and would host that game on Wednesday.Wonderfully crazy, like the season, manager Clint Hurdle said.The Pirates will either host the Giants in the wild card game, with the winner facing the Nationals, or open the division series at the Dodgers on Friday.Jordy Mercer homered, and Neil Walker drove in three runs with a bases-loaded single and a triple as the Pirates pulled ahead 6-4 but couldnt hold on.John Axford (0-1) walked Frazier to open the 10th and gave up Chris Heiseys single and another walk with one out. Left-hander Bobby LaFromboise relieved, retired Bryan Pena on a shallow fly out, then gave up Santiagos first career grand slam.Dylan Axelrod (2-1) retired the side in the top of the 10th.We couldnt close it out in the seventh, which weve been pretty efficient at doing, Hurdle said.For the second year in a row, the Pirates are finishing the regular season in Cincinnati on a playoff surge. Last year, they swept a three-game series at Great American Ball Park to clinch home-field advantage in the wild card game, and then beat the Reds at PNC Park in that one, too.The Pirates latest push includes 13 wins in the last 17 games. The loss on Saturday stalled their climb toward the top a€” they havent been in first place since April 8 a€” and gave the Cardinals some room.The Reds snapped a club-record streak of 45 consecutive losses when they allowed at least six runs in a game. Their bullpen got its first win since the All-Star break a€” Reds relievers are 1-17 over that span.The Reds are 24-42 since the All-Star break. Theyll at least tie the club record for fewest wins since the All-Star game. The 1933 team won 25 for the previous mark.Pittsburgh had to overcome a rare off-day by Francisco Liriano, who gave up five runs in five innings. It was only the second time in 14 starts since the All-Star break that hed allowed more than two runs. He remained 0-5 career in the regular season against the Reds, although he beat them in the wild-card game last season.It just wasnt his top-shelf game, Hurdle said.Liriano struggled to get his fastball where he wanted.I was trying too hard, I think, he said. I was trying to make perfect pitches.Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career high. Josh Harrison extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games, the longest by a Pirate in two years.JOCKETTY STAYSThe Reds extended GM Walt Jockettys contract for two years through the 2016 season. His status was the last major question heading into the off-season. Jocketty was elevated to the job in 2008.NO SWEATSimon hit a grounder to second baseman Neil Walker in the second inning, jogged a few steps down the line and turned toward the dugout while the ball was still in play.STATSMercers 12 homers are the most by a Pirates shortstop since Pat Meares hit 13 in 2000. ... Harrisons 15-game hitting streak is the longest by a Pirate since Neil Walker hit safely in 17 straight in 2012. ... Simon was 12-3 when he was picked for his first All-Star game. In 14 starts the rest of the way, he went 3-7.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: Catcher Russell Martin was out of the lineup with a sore left hamstring that began bothering him on Wednesday.Reds: Center fielder Billy Hamilton was out of the lineup and wont play on Sunday, either, because of a concussion suffered on Wednesday. Hamilton leads all NL rookies in runs, hits, doubles, stolen bases and RBIs.ON DECKPirates: Gerrit Cole (11-5) tries to extend his streak. The right-hander has won each of his last four starts.Reds: Johnny Cueto (19-9) tries to become the Reds first 20-game winner since left-hander Danny Jackson in 1988 and the first Reds right-hander since Sammy Ellis in 1965.___Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay Tracy Mcgrady Raptors Jersey . Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-Patrick-McCaw-Jersey/ . Joel Embiid was nearly unstoppable in the paint in the second half, and Naadir Tharpe seemingly couldnt miss. Norman Powell Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Toronto Raptors Jerseys . Toronto FC hosts the three-time Italian league champions in a friendly Aug. 7 at BMO Field, a game that Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said falls within a key part of their pre-season.GREEN BAY, Wis. - It had been a while since an NFC team pushed back against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.The Atlanta Falcons gave the Packers a four-quarter wake-up call on Monday night.Eddie Lacy ran for a touchdown and caught one of Aaron Rodgers three TD passes, and Green Bay built a 24-point halftime lead before holding on for a 43-37 victory.The Packers (10-3) earned their fifth consecutive victory to stay a game up on Detroit in the NFC North. They remained tied with Arizona for the NFCs best record.But Green Bay had plenty to think about.Atlanta star receiver Julio Jones shredded the secondary for a career-high 259 yards before leaving with a hip injury in the fourth quarter. Matt Ryan threw for 375 yards and four second-half touchdowns.We cant play one half or three quarters or anything like that, Packers defensive end-linebacker Julius Peppers said. Weve got to finish games.The New York Jets and New England Patriots each stayed within a touchdown of the Packers this season. But the four previous games against NFC foes were all blowouts, effectively over following a first-half Packers onslaught.This one appeared headed that way, too, after the Packers built a 31-7 halftime lead.The first play of the third quarter provided a clue that things might turn out differently against Atlanta.Jones 79-yard catch-and-run to the Packers 3 on the first play of the third quarter set up a 5-yard touchdown catch by Eric Weems on fourth down. Jones added a 22-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.Ryans 1-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter trimmed Green Bays lead to 40-30. Jones didnt come out for Atlantas failed 2-point conversion attempt.Atlanta coach Mike Smith said it was difficult to lose Jones late. But the Falcons did damage even with their No. 1 receiver hobbling on the sideline.The Falcons dropped to 5-8, but remained in a first-place tie with New Orleans in the woeful NFC South.White found a big bright spot.We scored 37 points tonight. If you cant believe in that, then you dont need to be in this locker room — we need to cut some people, White said.Some other takeaways after Green Bay improved to 7-0 at home this season:HOME COOKING: It mmay have been challenging in the second half, but in the end the Packers held on and stayed in contention for home-field advantage through the playoffs.ddddddddddddTheres been some ups and downs on both sides of the ball all season, Rodgers said. But were really getting this home-field advantage thing going, with the crowd noise, with the footing, with the way were playing, being really balanced on offence.Rodgers finished 24 of 36 for 327 yards. His other two touchdown passes went to Jordy Nelson, including a 60-yarder in the fourth quarter.Rodgers also extended his NFL records to 396 straight attempts and 34 consecutive touchdown passes at home without an interception.JULIOS BIG NIGHT: Only the hip injury stopped Jones.Jones set a career high for receiving yards for a second straight week, after going for 189 yards the previous game against Arizona.The Falcons didnt offer specifics on the injury afterward. Jones was spotted after the game having trouble walking up a flight of stairs to the locker room.NOT HIP, EITHER: Lacy also left the game with a bruised hip. Backup running back James Starks took over on the final drive and effectively ended Atlantas upset hopes with a 41-yard run to the Falcons 6 with 1:37 left.Lacy said he thought he would be OK, though he was sidelined as a precaution. Asked when the injury occurred, Lacy joked, Whenever I ran into the two big dudes.DEFENSIVE WOES: Atlantas NFL-worst defence sprung leaks early, even with the Falcons seemingly determined not to let the Packers beat them deep.Rodgers found openings checking down to Lacy and Starks. Lacy finished with 73 yards on 13 carries, while Starks had 75 yards on 10 attempts.Rodgers also took off five times for 28 yards.We gave up the big, explosive run. We did not tackle well across the board, Smith said.ODDS AND ENDS: Packers coach Mike McCarthy tied Vince Lombardi with 98 career victories, second on the franchise list behind Curly Lambeau (209). ... LB Clay Matthews beat his cousin, left tackle Jake Matthews, to give him 5 1/2 sacks this season. ... S Dwight Lowery had a team-high 13 tackles and a forced fumble for Atlanta.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '