Pirates clinch playoff berth

Associated Press

ATLANTA

Gerrit Cole was so focused on recording 17 consecutive outs, he didn’t glance at the out-of-town scoreboard.

Cole insisted he didn’t know his win over the Braves had clinched a playoff spot for Pittsburgh until he walked into the clubhouse and saw the lockers covered in plastic.

The surging Pirates earned their second-straight trip to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the free-falling Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

Cole gave up two runs in the first two innings and then didn’t allow another baserunner.

The Pirates’ win combined with Milwaukee’s loss to Cincinnati assured Pittsburgh of no worse than an NL wild card.

“I didn’t have any idea until I came in here,” Cole said.

The Pirates wrapped up their berth exactly one year after clinching a place in the 2013 playoffs.

“I think it establishes our presence in this league that we’re not going to go away,” Cole said.

The Pirates reacted to the final out on Tuesday with little emotion. Players exchanged high-fives in a line on the field before sharing hugs in front of their dugout. The emotions flowed with champagne and beer in the clubhouse.

Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates’ MVP contender, wore big ski goggles as he held a bottle of champagne in one hand and lit a big victory cigar.

McCutchen, who had two hits and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth, already had his focus on bigger goals.

“To celebrate is fun, but we’ve still got to take care of business,” he said.

Starling Marte gave Pittsburgh the lead with a sixth-inning double that drove in McCutchen. The Pirates, who are still chasing St. Louis for the NL Central title, have won 11 of 13.

“We didn’t panic,” McCutchen said. “That’s what’s good about this team.”