Pirates claim playoff spot for third straight year

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored six runs in the ninth to clinch a playoff berth for the third straight year with a 13-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

After watching most of a large early lead disappear, the Pirates put the Major League Baseball game out of reach with a productive ninth inning en route to equalling their season high with 13 runs.

The victory was their fifth straight and improved their record to 92-60, putting the Pirates a season-high 32 games above .500.

Second baseman Neil Walker had a career-high six RBIs, the first five coming in the opening three innings. He drove in two runs in the first and hit a three-run homer in the third off Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman.

Walker had a single in the ninth to become the first Pirate to drive in six runs since Garrett Jones in August 2012.
Source: AFP