Winning is the best retribution.
The Arizona Diamondbacks played an outsized role in the Pirates' 2014 season. Their gratuitous, machismo-infused retaliation for Ernesto Frieri's accidental breaking of Paul Goldschmidt's wrist disabled Andrew McCutchen at a crucial time late in the season. The Pirates answered this weekend in the most satisfying way, completing a sweep of their three-game series with an 8-0 victory.
Combined with two hard-earned victories to even up their series with the Cubs, the Bucs have now quietly put together a five-game winning streak on the strength of dominant starting pitching, reliable relief pitching, and timely hitting.