Pirates avoid 100 losses, win 63rd in sweep of Mets

The Mets came into the series on Friday as the best record in the NL, and a magic number of 1 to clinch their first division title since 1986. The Pirates won on Friday and Saturday, combined with Phillies wins, to keep the Mets still unclinched going into today's game. The Pirates would not be denied, winning 3-0 and being the first NL team to sweep the Mets this year. It marked win #63 on the season, the win that keeps them from losing 100 on the season - a mark that seemed almost certain back at the All-Star break.

Now, they are not even last in their division, now 2 games up on the Cubs and 4.5 behind the Brewers. At 63-87, it is still possible, however unlikely, that they could go 10-2 in their last 12 to avoid losing 90. Based on their up and down streakiness, this is not likely, but they still have it to fight out for Freddy Sanchez's attempt to win the NL Batting title. He went 2 for 3 on Sunday with 2 RBI to rise back to .341 average, while his closest chaser, Florida Marlin's Miguel Cabrera, went 2 for 5, to retain a .340 average. Sanchez once led by a wide margin a month ago, but it will be a tight race to the end. The Marlins play 4 vs the Mets, 3 vs the Philles, 3 vs the Reds, and another 3 vs the Phillies to close out the season. Tough schedule. The Pirates isn't much easier, going to LA and SD for 3 each, then home for 3 each vs Houston and Cincinnati. Not a cake walk either. (And not very likely for the Pirates to go 10-2 versus that schedule)

At least there is something to watch in September this year, something to root for. It's been 9 years since the last sniff of the division, when they were in the race with Houston coming into the final series of the year, despite being barely below .500.

PSU can't crack the coaches... 1 vote short this week

PSU crushed 1-AA Youngstown State on Saturday, 37-3, in a fill-in game after 1-A Louisiana Tech backed out at the last minute (last Spring) due to a scheduling conflict. YSU gave them some fits in the passing game, but PSU found a running game, rushing for near 400 yards. The game was scoreless after the 1st Quarter, but saw PSU score 20 in the 2nd quarter and 10 more in the third, before their backup quarterback tacked on the last 7 late in the 4th quarter on a run.

PSU was 25 in the AP last week, and moved up to 24 this week, ahead of Boise State as the new 25. The Coaches, as the USAToday poll (ESPN pulled its association and now uses the AP in its broadcasts), saw PSU as the first in the list of others receiving votes after the loss at Notre Dame. This week finds them in the same spot, 1 stinking vote behind new 25th place team Boise State.