Pittsburgh Pirates: 5 Most Memorable Moments of 2014

Pirates fans had been clamoring for Gregory Polanco since he tore it up in Spring Training. The team finally answered the call on June 10, when they called up their top prospect. Polanco delivered a single in the third inning of his debut and scored a run. Three days later, Polanco had five hits in a game in Miami, including his first home run, a go-ahead homer in the 13th inning. It was quite a first week in the big leagues for Polanco.

Josh Harrison was undoubtedly the Pirates' MVP this season. He filled in at a number of positions and eventually found a permanent home at third base. Along with sparking the offense with his bat, he also did it with his feet. He showed off his elusiveness by getting out of two rundowns. The first escape happened against the New York Mets in June. He did it again in July against the Colorado Rockies. In both cases, he ended up safe at third base.

2014 was the year Andrew McCutchen repeatedly got hit or knocked down by fastballs. There was no bigger spectacle than when McCutchen was drilled in Arizona by Randall Delgado. It came in the ninth inning, a day after Diamondbacks' star Paul Goldschmidt was hit and broke his hand. McCutchen was furious, slamming his bat to the ground. Many believe this bean-ball may have led to McCutchen's injury just a day later.

The Pirates were spiraling out of control in mid-August, losing seven games in a row. The Pirates trailed 2-0 in the 8th against the Atlanta Braves, and it appeared they were destined for loss No. 8. But several key hits in the 8th tied the game. Then in the ninth, with runners on second and third, Gaby Sanchez lifted the game-winning sacrifice fly to center field. After breaking the losing streak, the Pirates went 23-12 the rest of the season.

Nothing captured the emotions of a city ready to return to the playoffs more than Russell Martin's huge three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 19. The Pirates' offense was silent for the first seven innings. Then in the 8th, with one swing of the bat, Russell Martin basically willed the Pirates to victory. The win put the Pirates 4.5 games ahead of Milwaukee in the Wild Card, pretty much punching their ticket to the postseason.