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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- A three-game sweep left the Pirates with 94 wins and home-field advantage for the wild-card playoff. Cam Ward Hurricanes Jersey . Now, its back home to PNC Park to get the post-season started. Quite a weekend, no? "The big thing about that is: It means absolutely nothing," outfielder Marlon Byrd said. "Everything youve done for 162 games now means absolutely nothing." Tell that to the revved-up Pirates fans ready to pack PNC Park on Tuesday night for their first playoff game in 21 years. The Pirates headed into the playoffs with a lot of momentum on Sunday, beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in a game that was mostly an afterthought for teams looking ahead to their rematch in two days. "Im happy with where were at," said Pedro Alvarez, who had a chance to share the NLs home run title. "Obviously we have a lot to accomplish and get done, but weve gone out there and played some pretty good baseball. Weve just got to keep going." The Pirates and Reds have met five times in the playoffs: 1970, 1972, 1975, 1979 and 1990, when the Reds won their last World Series title. The wild-card matchup features right-hander Johnny Cueto (5-2), who is 8-2 career at PNC Park, against left-hander Francisco Liriano (16-8), who is 0-3 in four starts against Cincinnati this season. First, there was one game to finish the schedule, and it meant little to either team. Pittsburgh played mostly backups. Alvarez was in the lineup, giving him a chance to try to win the NL home run crown outright. He walked, was hit by a pitch and popped out, finishing the season tied with Arizonas Paul Goldschmidt at 36 homers. The last Pirate to lead the league in homers was Willie Stargell in 1973 with 44. "This is something extra," Alvarez said. "Im not worried about that at all." Reds manager Dusty Baker started his regulars but began substituting after the third inning. Corky Miller had a two-run double. The Reds dropped their last five games, matching their season high. "I dont think were worried about the way we finished the season," catcher Ryan Hanigan said. "I think everybodys excited about the opportunity. All of that is in the past. Everything is ahead of us." Jordy Mercer got the Pirates second inside-the-park homer of the season when right fielder Jay Bruce dived and missed his sinking liner in the second inning. Mercer also had a triple off Greg Reynolds (1-3) and scored twice. Garrett Jones homered for the Pirates, who hit nine in all during the series. Brandon Cumpton (2-1) gave up a pair of hits in five shutout innings. Kyle Farnsworth got his second save. On Tuesday, the Ohio River cities will add to a rivalry that has long been second-best for both cities. Cincinnati has its in-state grudge match with Cleveland. Pittsburgh also has a long-standing rivalry with Cleveland, a pair of steel cities that share a love for polkas and pierogies. Lately, the river rivalry has moved to the forefront. The Bengals beat the Steelers at Heinz Field last December to clinch the AFC North title and knock the Steelers out of the post-season. They signed one of Pittsburghs best players -- linebacker James Harrison -- as a free agent and beat the Steelers again in a Monday night game at Paul Brown Stadium this month. And now, its spilling over to baseball with an edgy series that got both cities attention during the summer -- 28 batters plunked overall, the most in the majors. All those hit batters have left a mark. It feels like a rivalry again. "I think weve gotten each others attention since Ive been here," said Clint Hurdle, in his third season as the Pirates manager. "I think theres a professional respect and theres a desire to go out and win. "I think the content of the games and the quality of the games over the past three years have probably led to that a little bit. Its kind of refreshing. Thats the way it was back when I was a kid watching these two teams play." The Reds are trying to get past the disappointment of their closing week. They clinched a playoff spot on Monday night, but went in to a batting slump that allowed the Pirates to get home-field advantage for the wild card. "As bad as things have been this weekend, we should be very happy and thankful that were going to Pittsburgh to play instead of being down and sad about whats transpired," Baker said. "Our goal is to go to Atlanta or St. Louis (in the division series) and then give our people some more games." NOTES: Alvarez also led the NL with 186 strikeouts. Bruce was second with 185. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips was out of the lineup with a bruised left shin, hit by a foul ball on Saturday. Hes expected to play on Tuesday. ... Joey Votto and Shin-Soo Choo finished first and second in the NL in on-base percentage. Votto led the NL in walks for the third straight season with a club-record 135. ... The Reds drew 2,492,059 fans for 80 home dates, a season record at Great American Ball Park. Riley Nash Hurricanes Jersey ., to Washington, D.C., to watch their son Tanner pitch in the Nationals home opener. Then they got a call from their daughter-in-law, telling them he wouldnt be starting Friday. Nathan Gerbe Jersey .51 points, ahead of Canadian Olympic champion Alex Bilodeau and Patrick Deneed of the United States. Mikael Kingsbury has a 710-point lead in the overall standings, followed by his compatriot Bilodeau (699) and Deneed (382).Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at [e-mail]. In Sundays Blackhawks-Penguins game, Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik laid a huge hit on Chicagos Jonathan Toews. Now in my view, Orpik can be clearly seen leaving his feet while delivering a moderately high hit. Why wasnt there supplemental discipline, and should there have even been a penalty? I thought anytime you leapt or left your feet, a penalty is called! Am I missing something? Stu Alderson Stu: You and I are not the only ones missing something here as players continually elevate their posture and leave their feet at impact to deliver devastating hits.  Dangerous and significant contact to the head of their opponent almost always results whenever a player leaves his feet to make a big hit. In the here and now, these hits are deemed "legal." With an eye firmly set on the end game, which I hope still remains to greatly reduce contact to the head and resulting concussions, it is irresponsible to continue down this path any longer. While each camp can passionately debate their respective position on whether to allow or eliminate high hits where significant contact to the head of an opponent results, I respectfully submit this issue should no longer be a matter of personal opinion. Instead, it should only be about "science." Through irrefutable medical evidence, we now know the short and long term effects of blows to the head. This road map can provide us with a clear picture of the end game! Brooks Orpik set up to deliver a body check as he slowed and glided toward Jonathan Toews in the corner. Toews sole intent was to advance the puck around the end wall. In doing so, Jonathan Toews lowered his body posturre to place him (and particularly his head) in a vulnerable position and must share the responsibility for the location of where he was hit. Jay McClement Jersey. The onus of "how" the contact was delivered and the "degree of force" utilized is exclusively on Brooks Orpik and taken into account by the referee to determine the legality of the check. No differently than the vast majority of current players, Brooks Orpik finished his hit on Jonathan Toews with considerable force as demonstrated by his upward launch with skates high off the ice. This intensified the velocity and violence of the hit regardless of whether Toews was in a vulnerable position or not. In many cases I would even suggest that an opponents apparent vulnerability is something a player will capitalize on to enhance the degree of force exerted through a hit. We certainly dont see many players let up! Rule 42.1 tells us that a minor or major shall be imposed on a player who "jumps into" an opponent. The "jump" element of this rule was once applied when a players skates lost contact with the ice. Charging is seldom called in the current era of the game, where players leave their feet with far more frequency in the act of delivering a body check than ever before. The most common "excuse" for not calling this infraction is that a players skates did not completely leave the ice prior to initiating body contact. This generous and liberal interpretation is extended to include times when the toe tip of one skate remains in contact with the ice at impact.  Referees should be directed to impose a charging penalty in every case when a players skates leave the ice in the act of delivering a body check, period. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to see the end game; just a medical scientist!   wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '