A 19th-inning loss last season put the Pittsburgh Pirates in a funk that ultimately led to them posting their 19th straight losing season.

Perhaps a 19-inning victory can lead to different results for the Pirates, who trudge into San Diego on Monday for the opener of a three-game series against the Padres.

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A season ago, the Pirates were 53-47 heading into a July 26th meeting with Atlanta, one that ended with a 4-3 defeat after the Braves scored the winning run following a blown call at home by umpire Jerry Meals, who appeared to miss a tag at the plate.

That setback started a 1-12 skid for the Pirates, who finished the season at 72-90.
Pittsburgh brings a 67-54 mark into this opener after a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. The Pirates went ahead in the 6-hour, 7-minute marathon on Pedro Alvarez's solo homer in the 19th inning. They tacked on two more runs in the frame on Andrew McCutchen's single and Wandy Rodriguez hurled a scoreless bottom of the frame -- his second inning of work -- for the win.

'We kept playing defense, we kept pitching. At the end of the day, we finally got some separation in the 19th inning,' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

The victory has the Pirates a game up on the San Francisco Giants and two ahead of the Cardinals for the second wild card spot in the NL.

Pittsburgh now aims at.