CINCINNATI -- The Pirates' 81st win of the year no longer carries the same weight it did five years ago. After 20 years spent waiting for win No. 81, Pittsburgh raised the standard while reaching the postseason from 2013-15.
But a winning record is better than the alternative, especially for a Pirates team that was accused of "tanking" this spring and is now looking to establish momentum for next season. So there was some satisfaction to be found in the Bucs' 8-4 victory over the Reds on Friday night at Great American Ball Park.
The Pirates will play their 161st and final game of the season on Sunday, as their rescheduled game against the Marlins on Monday was canceled, so they officially clinched a winning season -- their first since a 98-64, National League Wild Card campaign in 2015.