If their series opener was a good indication, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals plan on competing as if this was a playoff series, not an interleague matchup of also-rans.
"A lot of life in the clubhouse. A lot of excitement (looking) toward the future," the Pirates' Josh Bell said after the teams went back and forth Monday. Pittsburgh tied it in the eighth inning and won it 7-6 on Jacob Stallings' walkoff RBI single.
The second game of the three-game set is Tuesday at PNC Park.
The Pirates (75-74) moved above .