PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates are all-in as they chase the franchises first playoff appearance in 21 years.
Cole Hamels Jersey . Pittsburgh traded for longtime Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau on Saturday, hoping the four-time All Star can give the Pirates middling offence a jolt heading into the final month of the season. "We felt that this move gives us a better chance to play in October, a better chance to win the division, a better chance to advance in October," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. The Twins obtained outfielder Alex Presley and either a player to be named or cash in Pittsburghs second major move in a week. The Pirates sent a pair of minor leaguers to the New York Mets on Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck. "Weve got more depth, weve got more options than we had four days ago," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "Were a better team. Were a stronger team." Pittsburgh entered Saturday tied with St. Louis atop the NL Central with 29 games remaining. The Pirates have been in contention all season thanks in large part to a pitching staff currently second in the majors with a 3.17 ERA. Morneaus presence could have an immediate impact on an offence that ranks 10th in the NL in runs. The 32-year-old New Westminster, B.C., native hit .259 with 17 homers and 74 RBIs this season for Minnesota and is finishing off a red-hot month in which he smacked nine home runs. "I think hes found some ways to spark some things offensively in the second half," Hurdle said. The Pirates will pick up the remaining portion of Morneaus $14 million salary, estimated at around $2 million. Its not an insignificant investment for an ownership group that has sometimes shied away from paying the tab for proven players. Yet with Pittsburgh on the cusp of its first winning season since 1992, Huntington worked aggressively after the non-waiver trade deadline to give the Pirates the pieces they need to remain in a tight three-team divisional race with St. Louis and Cincinnati. "We made Clints job a little bit easier," Huntington said. "Hes got a number of weapons at his disposal now." While Huntington believes hell be "mocked" for thinking the Pirates are true World Series contenders, he and Hurdle made a compelling case to Morneau, who had to OK the trade that ends a sometimes spectacular 11 seasons in Minnesota. Morneau won the 2006 AL MVP award and was one of the best hitters in the game until a concussion knocked him out of action in 2010. Still, he remained one of the cornerstones of the Twins clubhouse. His departure is another emotional low point in a disappointing season. "I have great respect for Morny," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He was our leader. He set the table. If there was something that needed to be said, he stepped up." While Morneaus numbers have tailed off the last three years, his power should play better at PNC Park compared to cavernous Target Field. Its just 320 feet from home plate to the right-field wall at PNC, an inviting target for left-handed sluggers. The Pirates had Morneaus No. 36 jersey ready minutes after the trade was announced and Hurdle held out hope Morneau would make it to the clubhouse in time for Saturday nights game against the Cardinals. Whenever Morneau arrives, hell give a club reaching heights not seen in a generation another proven bat and more than an ounce of legitimacy. And hell do it while taking away at-bats from longtime friend Garrett Jones. Jones has spent most of the season platooning with Gaby Sanchez at first and broke out of a lengthy slump by going 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs in Pittsburghs 5-0 win over the Cardinals on Friday. Now hell likely be moved to the bench or spot duty in the outfield. Playing behind Morneau is nothing new for Jones. He was a prospect in Minnesotas farm system for years but couldnt break into the majors on a regular basis with Morneau entrenched at first. Jones called Morneau "a friend" and understands why the Pirates pursued him. Until Friday, Jones was hitting just .119 in August. "When were winning and we know we can get a good player, sometimes youve got to suck it up and know whats best for the team," Jones said. "Hopefully I can still continue to get in there and play and contribute."
Elvis Andrus Jersey . Mike Vecchione tied it at 2 with 4:01 left in the first, Saskatoon native Eli Lichtenwald gave the Dutchman the lead 57 seconds later, and Daniel Ciampini capped the spree with 2:57 to go.
Martin Perez Jersey . Catch the action live on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Wild lead the Northwest Division and look to get back into the win column after having a season-high seven-game winning streak cut short with Tuesdays 2-1 loss at Winnipeg in the finale of a five-game road trip (4-1-0).KONIGSSEE, Germany -- Tristan Walker and Justin Snith reached the World Cup podium Saturday and made Canadian luge history in the process. Walker, from Cochrane, Alta., and Snith, from Calgary finished third to become the first Canadian duo to win a medal in mens doubles. Earlier, Calgarys Alex Gough won her fourth medal of the season by taking bronze in the womens event. It was the first time that Canada has won two individual medals on the same day at a luge World Cup. "It was a fantastic day for our team and a rock-solid week," said head coach Wolfgang Staudinger. In the womens race, Germanys Natalie Geisenberger earned her sixth victory in as many tries this season. She rallied in the second heat to beat teammate Tatjana Huefner by 0.105 seconds, winning with a two-run time of 1:40.591. Gough was 0.331 seconds off the lead in third place. Kim McRae was fifth and Arianne Jones, also from Calgary, was 12th. In the mens race, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt won gold in 1:39.956 for their fifth win in six races this season. Fellow Germans Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken slid to silver in 1:40.253 and Walker and Snith were third in 1:40.709. Walker and Snith, both 22, have finished fourth on four occasions, including at the 2013 world championships. "It is awesome and especially to do it here in Konigssee which is a home away from home for us," said Walker. "We spend a lot of time here, and it is always the first place we go to after Christmas. I had a feeling when wed finally do it that it would be either here or in Canada. "It was pretty tense watching the splits come down the track. Standing in the leaders box it was a feeling of relief and excitement." They were in fourth place after the first trip down the 11-corner Konigssee track. IIn a sport that demands consistency, the Canadian duo clocked nearly identical times of 50.
Yu Darvish Jersey. 59 and 50.350 to move up to third. "I just cant believe it," said Snith. "Im at a loss for words. It is so nice to see the hard work that we have put in pay off. Its just huge for us to get a podium before Sochi. We knew we could be there, but to actually do it is nice confirmation." In the womens singles, Gough reached the podium despite sitting in fifth spot after her first run. Gough, who is preparing for her third Olympic appearance, now has 15 career World Cup medals. "I didnt have the best first run, but I did put it together on the second run," she said. "That has been kind of the theme of the year for me. But it was such a good day for our team. Its so exciting and awesome to see that everyone can be there and fantastic to see the doubles team finally do it." With the win, Geisenberger is on the cusp of wrapping up the points title with three races remaining. She has 600 points, 199 better than Gough with three races left. Staudinger, who is from Konigssee, was recruited to the Canadian program nearly eight years ago from the German program. He was thrilled with the teams progress. "It was great for Alex to get back on the podium and it was even better to see Kim continue to grow and show she can be there with the best at the start and finish," he said. "The doubles finally did it. They were overdue. To be fourth over and over again, you know it is just a matter of time and great to see it happen. "Wow -- it was a great day for us." Wendl and Arlt lead Eggert and Benecken by 140 points in the mens doubles season standings. Walker and Snith are seventh. Competition continues Sunday.
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