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Russell’s last at-bat memorable moment

By John Perrotto for The 3 min read
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The most memorable moment of the National League wild card game — at least from the Pirates’ perspective — was Russell Martin’s at-bat in the ninth inning.

Though the Pirates were down eight runs in what would become an 8-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, much of the PNC Park crowd stayed until the end. It became clear many of the fans stuck around for Martin’s final at-bat.

Knowing it might be his last act with the Pirates because he becomes eligible for free agency after the World Series, the fans chanted “Re-sign Russ” throughout his at-bat. After he struck out, the fans began chanting “Russ-ell Mart-in,” a la the Yankee Stadium Bleacher Creatures.

Martin was clearly moved by the gesture.

“It was unbelievable,” the veteran catcher said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that.”

It is nothing short of amazing how much things have changed for Martin in two years.

He signed with the Pirates for two years and $17 million as a free agent admittedly because they offered the most money. Now, he is a folk hero.

What was supposed to be a two-year pit stop until he landed a better contract has instead become home for a guy who had spent his entire career playing in the country’s two largest media markets with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

Martin has come to love the Pittsburgh area and wants to stay.

Even Pirates tone-deaf owner Bob Nutting had to hear the chants.

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The second-most memorable Pirates moment from the wild card game was Kent Tekulve throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The franchise’s all-time saves leader and post-game television analyst had heart valve surgery last winter and heart transplant surgery last month.

Tekulve, one of baseball’s all-time good people, said he is looking forward to resuming his duties with ROOT Sports next season. That was some good news on an otherwise bad night for the Pirates.

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While the Pirates were disappointed to bow out in the wild card game, it does not detract from their season.

The terms heart, hustle, grit and desire are scoffed at by many in the modern numbers-based baseball world. However, this year’s team had all of those characteristics and wouldn’t have make it to the postseason without them.

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