First number, last word

By Tom Singer

September 29, 2013

1.39: Mark Melancon's ERA, in 71 innings, entering Sunday's season finale. That will rank as the lowest in club history for anyone with 50-plus innings in relief, bettering Larry Demery's mark of 1.53 for 64 2/3 innings in 1975.

"Managing games of no consequence when we weren't in the race ... I've had many opportunities along those lines. But this is different. Guess we've earned this opportunity to ratchet down." -- Hurdle, on the Pirates being able to unplug for Game No. 162, following Saturday's No. 1 Wild Card clincher

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.