First number, last word

By Tom Singer

September 7, 2013

12-8: An unlikely popular final score on the Pirates' 2013 ledger; they beat the Giants by that count of June 12, and lost to the Brewers (April 30) and the Cardinals (Friday night).

"You don't want anyone to be human in September. You want them to be superhuman. Be uncommon, not common." -- Hurdle, on the demands of the pennant race's bell lap.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.