Hurdle's young daughter takes loss hard

ST. LOUIS -- Take the 14-inning, 4-3 loss in the wee moments of Wednesday morning hard? Wish you could have unloaded your angst on Pirates manager Clint Hurdle?

Relax. It was all taken care of by Maddie Hurdle.

The manager's 11-year-old daughter apparently gave her father a piece of her mind in the morning and, as one reporter lightheartedly interpreted the circumstances, had to "be talked off the ledge" by Dad.

"Maddie is a very passionate Buccos fan," Hurdle said, smiling at the memory of their conversation. "I told her Pirate ships don't have rearview mirrors, so we're sailing forward.

"If I can go Dr. Seuss on her, it helps. I spun it into, 'Don't be sad it happened, be glad that it's over.' I also reminded her that Pirates love tomorrow."

The Bucs dropped the series opener in extra innings after a dropped fly ball by left fielder Starling Marte contributed to the Cardinals' tying run in the ninth inning and prolonged the game.