First number, last word

By Tom Singer

September 20, 2013

1,192: Pirates pitchers' club record for most strikeouts in a season, set in 2012; the Bucs began Friday night's game six whiffs shy of breaking that standard.

"This is the most important game we'll play all season ... then we'll play another one [Saturday]." -- Hurdle, putting Friday's game, the first of six in 10 days against the Cincinnati Reds, in context.

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.