Pirates' Mark Melancon After Win Over Cubs At Wrigley Field: 'Our Fans Are Better'

(CBS) Some more fuel has been added to the Cubs-Pirates rivalry that will come to a head in the National League wild-card game.

After getting out of a ninth-inning jam to preserve a 3-2 win against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon, Pirates closer Mark Melancon was fired up and demonstrative, pumping his fist, ripping his hat off and screaming in a manner befitting a big win in September.

Melancon celebrated hard after striking out Cubs youngsters Jorge Soler and Javy Baez with the tying run at third base with one out. In a postgame TV interview, he continued his exuberance over a win that gave the Pirates a lead of 4.5 games over the Cubs for the right to host the NL wild-card game, which will take place Oct. 7.

Melancon believes home-field advantage in that game is big.

"Our fans are better," Melancon said. "That's all I got to say. I love playing here, no doubt, but I like our fans better, obviously."

The Pirates recently lost starting infielder Jung Ho Kang for the rest of the season to a torn MCL and fractured tibia after Cubs infielder/outfielder Chris Coghlan slid hard and high into him in trying to break up a double play in a contest in Pittsburgh.

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