Pirates' rally in 8th capped off by McKenry's 1st career homer

In the words of the great Mike Lange, "if you missed it folks, shame on you for six weeks."
The Pirates' Michael McKenry hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning for a 7-4 lead and Joel Hanrahan closed the door in the ninth with his 26th save in as many opportunities for a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Cubs Friday night at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh (46-42) is in second place behind Milwaukee (48-42), who needed a walk-off two-run single to beat Cincinnati (44-46). St. Louis (47-43) is in the third after a loss to Arizona (49-41). The Pirates will enjoy their first winning mark at the All-Star game since 1992, which was the last time they had a .500 season and made the playoffs. The Bucs are 13-7 in their last 20.
Chicago (36-54) took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth with one out when Darwin Barney's RBI single scored Marlon Byrd and moved Alfonso Soriano to third. Soriano doubled off Jose Veras earlier in the inning.
After Veras struck out Blake DeWitt, he walked Kosuke Fukudome and Clint Hurdle brought in Daniel McCutchen.
McCutchen (3-1) got Starlin Castro to fly out to end the top of the eighth.
In the Pirates' eighth, Matt Diaz walked and was replaced by pinch runner Pedro Ciriaco. After Andrew McCutchen flied out, Neil Walker hit into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but Ciriaco broke it up and Walker was safe at first.
Ciriaco, who probably has his ID checked each time he enters the ballpark, made one of the biggest plays of the game.
Hurdle stated in his post-game press conference that we aren't talking about McKenry's heroics if Ciriaco doesn't break up that double play.
Lyle Overbay's single moved Walker to second and the Cubs brought in closer Carlos Marmol to relieve Sean Marshall (5-3).
Josh Harrison, who was celebrating his 24th birthday, lined a single to center that scored Walker to tie the game. Overbay moved to second. Harrison was 3-for-4. Marmol hadn't allowed a run to that point in 13 straight outings.
McKenry took the first pitch for a strike, then fouled off six straight offerings before belting his three-run shot to left-center.
McKenry, who was shopping for groceries in the New England area less than a month ago, granted the crowd of 37,140 a curtain call. That's doesn't happen too often in Pittsburgh, let alone for a journeyman catcher.
The Pirates trailed 1-0 in the first after Aramis Ramirez hit a solo homer. They took the lead in the third when Alex Presley and Chase d'Arnaud scored on an infield single by Walker. Presley had singled and moved to third on a double by d'Arnaud. Walker's hit went deep into the hole at second and by the time the Cubs' Carlos Pena got the ball at first d'Arnaud was headed home.
That kind of aggresive play on the basepaths is what the Pirates need to do if they want to make a run at the division crown. They don't have the bats, so they must do the little things. I attribute that to Hurdle.
After Chicago took a 3-2 lead, Andrew McCutchen led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run.
I know it was against the Cubs, who are 18 games under .500 and in fifth place in the NL Central, but this kind of win shows the character of this team.
They may not have the talent of the Cardinals, Brewers and Reds, but they believe they can win. It also feels good to win a game like this when you are a contender. If Pittsburgh had the same record as last year and won a game like this, It wouldn't mean that much. Winning close games when something is on the line does.
Kevin Correia takes the mound tonight for the Bucs in search of his 12th win. Correia won 10 games for the entire season in 2010.