d the small-bu

CHICAGO -- Players chanted "MVP! MVP!" as they doused Andrew McCutchen in the visitors clubhouse, two decades of futility finally washed away. Jim Plunkett Raiders Jersey . The last time the Pirates made the playoffs, Barry Bonds was in the middle of the order. The average price of gas was $1.13 a gallon. Yes, it had been that long. The Pirates are going to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, clinching at least a National League wild card Monday night when they beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 and the Washington Nationals lost to St. Louis. And they hope thats just the start, not the end. "Were definitely not done," McCutchen said. "Weve got some games left. We still could move farther." Now, they can turn their attention toward bigger goals, the kind that seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream through all those losing seasons. It will be Pittsburghs first trip to the post-season since Bonds, Jim Leyland and Co. won three straight NL East titles from 1990-92. Bonds then left for San Francisco as a free agent, and the small-budget Pirates piled up 20 consecutive losing records -- the longest streak in the four major professional sports. "For me, its not about the last 21 years," Russell Martin said. "For me, it was just about this year, and what we could do this year. They had a good season last year, lost some steam late in September, but I knew that if youre having a good season all the way into September, you know you have a good club." Starling Marte hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning at Wrigley Field, and the Pirates threw out a runner at the plate for the final out. The Pirates sprayed each other with bubbly and beer and sparkling cider in the visitors clubhouse once St. Louis 4-3 win over the Nationals became final. The Cincinnati Reds also clinched at least a wild-card berth, when they beat the New York Mets 3-2 in 10 innings. The Pirates and Reds, both 90-67, trail St. Louis by two games in the NL Central with five to go. Pittsburgh players sang Journeys "Dont Stop Believing." They took pictures and manager Clint Hurdle had them gather for a group photo in the middle of the cramped visitors clubhouse. "The people of Pittsburgh have been waiting a long time," said Neil Walker, who homered. The Pirates snapped a 1-all tie when Marte sent a drive off Kevin Gregg (2-6) with two outs in the ninth into the left field bleachers. In a fitting coincidence, they then preserved the victory on the final out in a play at the plate. McCutchen, the centre fielder, picked up Ryan Sweeneys bloop single after right fielder Marlon Byrd failed in trying to scoop up the ball and threw to first baseman Justin Morneau, positioned just in front of the pitchers mound. Morneau caught the throw on one hop and made the relay to catcher Russell Martin, who applied the tag on Nate Schierholtz trying to score from first base. Still on his knees, Martin held the ball over his head in jubilation. Then, he heaved the ball toward deep left field as the Pirates celebrated near the mound, and Jason Grilli grabbed him, having escaped with his 32nd save in 34 chances. "Twenty-one years since we popped champagne in a Pirates clubhouse -- and were acting like its been a long time," Hurdle said. "The hard work, the fun. Im just proud of each and every man in here, the fans they represent, ownership, general manager, president ... the scouts, players. This has been a group effort for a long time." The Pirates last trip to the playoffs ended with Atlantas Sid Bream sliding home with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NL championship series. The Cubs tied it in the eighth off Mark Melancon (3-2). Martes 12th homer set off loud boos for Gregg (2-6), who was almost released last week after going on a rant to reporters when he thought he had lost the closers job to Pedro Strop. Walker homered against Jeff Samardzija in the first to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead, and Charlie Morton pitched three-hit ball over seven scoreless innings before the Cubs tied it against Melancon. Brian Bogusevic led off the eighth with a single, his second hit, and moved up on a groundout by Darwin Barney. Then, after a wild pitch, he scored the tying run on a single by pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy. That spoiled a terrific start for Morton, who struck out five and walked one. Samardzija was almost as good, allowing one run and five hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked four after going 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in his previous four starts. Samardzijas only blemish in this one came when Walker drove a 1-1 pitch out to left-centre with one out in the first. With the long ball, Walker matched a career high of 14 set last season. He has four homers in the past five games. Samardzija settled down after that but got little support as the Cubs lost for the 10th time in 13 games. It was also the second straight day an opponent celebrated at Wrigley Field. Atlanta clinched the NL East on Sunday, and this time, it was the Pirates turn to party. "Thats what we need to do," Samardzija said. "I think were getting there, but we need to get some things ironed out." Justin Ellis Jersey . The teams official Twitter account quoted coach John Tortorella on Friday saying that Kesler "has a sprained knee and is out at least a couple of weeks". Kevin Burnett Jersey . -- The Royals expect to place left-hander Bruce Chen on the disabled list with a swollen disc in his back that has already caused the club to juggle its starting rotation.Hot Springs, AR (SportsNetwork.com) - Eclipse Award winner Take Charge Brandi fought off a challenge down the stretch to capture Saturdays $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes in her season debut at Oaklawn Park. Owned by Willis Horton and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Take Charge Brandi went off as the 2-5 favorite in the six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies. Ridden for the first time by veteran jockey Jon Court, Take Charge Brandi set the pace in the mile event. Basically, I was told just be a passenger and shed do the rest, Court noted. On the final turn, Take Charge Brandi had the lead with Sarah Sis and 7-2 second choice Indian Annie right behind. The favorite was joined down the stretch by 7-1 third pick Sarah Sis but was able to hold off the challenger to post a head victory. This was a comeback race and were obviously glad to have it under our belts. She was a little erratic through the stretch, Lukas said, but it was her first time here. It gives us something to build on. The big thing is getting this under her belt and moving on to the next one. Indian Annie got third followed by Sweet Corinna, High Dollar Woman and PPerfect Fit. Tarell Brown Jersey. Cape Town Stevie was an early scratch. The time for the Martha Washington on a fast track was 1:39.66. Take Charge Brandi boosted her earnings by $60,000 to $1,680,126 with five wins in nine starts. The Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies winner is being pointed toward the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1. Well, you may get to see it in the Arkansas Derby, but lets take it one race at a time, said Horton. Our big goal is the Kentucky Oaks. If things work out, we may run in the Arkansas Derby and possibly the Kentucky Derby with her because Wayne is good with fillies and hes won the Derby with fillies before. Take Charge Brandi won the 2014 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly primarily based on her 61-1 upset victory in the Juvenile Fillies last November. The 3-year-old finished her 2014 season by winning the Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 13. That victory came just three weeks after capturing the Delta Downs Princess Stakes on Nov. 22. Take Charge Brandi paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Sarah Sis returned $4.20 and $2.60, and Indian Annie paid $2.20 to show. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '