Fans Excited To See Bucs Alone In 1st Place
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to complete a four-game sweep of the visiting Houston Astros tonight at PNC Park.
The team is currently in a bit of unfamiliar territory being alone in first place in the NL Central. Their 45-36 record is good enough to give them a one-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds.
"Here in Pittsburgh, unfortunately, if you don't win, people don't come out. But now, they are coming and there's a product here to be proud of," Tom Finlay said.
At the halfway point of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates sit atop the NL Central and fans couldn't be happier.
"Well I can see the Pirates in first place, and I just hope that they can keep it up," one fan said.
There is little doubt that winning is contagious and that's why the ticket booth at PNC Park has become a very popular place to shop.
"We got seven tickets so the whole family is coming down. It's going to be a great time," Barb McGee said.
One woman bought tickets to see the Pirates play the Reds in September as part of her daughter's 21st birthday party.
"Just their attitude. Just watching them playing on the field, they are laughing in the dugout, they are just having a good time," Tom Klima said.
Tom and his wife brought their 10-month-old daughter downtown for Wednesday's fireworks and are staying in town for tonight's game.
They aren't alone in their love of the Bucs.
"I'm 82-years-old honey. I remember Frank Gustine, I remember Ralph Kiner. I can name you -- I remember Willie Stargell," Evelyn Sica said.
However, she does think with guys like Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez, these Pirates could be playing in October.
"I think they are going to get to the playoffs -- that far I am going to say. I don't know about big league, the big thing, the big dance, but they are going to make the playoffs I think," Sica said.
If the second half of the season is like the first, it could happen.
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