Sports

Patch Picks: Reasons to Go to a Pirates Game

The B-W Patch gives you another best-of list in a weekly feature.

The Baldwin-Whitehall Patch presents its weekly Patch Picks feature, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.

One of the best things about living in , or is that you're so close to actual Pittsburgh, including its North Shore neighborhood.

North Shore has been very popular this summer with the , so this week's Patch Picks are five reasons to get to PNC Park soon to watch the Buccos.

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  • Duh ... Winning: The Pirates have strung together 18 consecutive losing seasons, but this year's Bucs are bucking the trend by going 45-42 so far.
  • Meaningful Baseball: Pittsburgh-area residents and sports fans agree that PNC Park, opened in 2001, is beautiful, but the Pirates have never played a truly meaningful game there this late in the season. That is changing this year, as the Bucs are only one game out of first place in the National League's Central Division.
  • They're Heeere!: The boys are back in town. The Pirates will play the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 8, 9 and 10.
  • All-Star(s): The Pirates will send at least one player to this year's Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 12: relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan, the team's closer. Since the Bucs are winning more games than they're losing this year, chances are good that you'll see Hanrahan trying to close out a win at PNC Park this weekend should you be there. Also, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and starting pitchers Kevin Correia and Jeff Karstens all have a chance to join Hanrahan in the 2011 all-star game should one of the National League's all-stars get injured before July 12.
  • A Bargain: Unless some sections are already sold out, tickets are available for as little as $9 each on Pirates.com. Often, there are giveaways at the gate for no extra charge. For example, the team holds a Free Shirt Friday promotion.

 

Go Bucs! And check back each week for more Patch Picks.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here are , which featured tips for a safe Independence Day.


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