Pirates trending upward in late chase for WC

MILWAUKEE — Andrew McCutchen’s first-inning homer on Wednesday was headed in the wrong direction — to the wrong side of the left-field foul pole — until, at the opportune time of its descent, it never turned foul.

McCutchen’s homer got the Pirates going in the right direction, sparking a much-needed 4-1 win over the Brewers at Miller Park. With the ball’s late change of path that put it back on the right track, could it also be a metaphor for an improbable late-season surge into the postseason by the Pirates, winners of six of their last seven?

“I think you get to a place where you stop to fight and you start playing,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “You go back to the thing where you were 6 years old and playing in the backyard. You have to have some fun when you do this.”

Beating the Brewers was one major part of a day that could not have gone better for the Pirates. The Marlins lost, pushing Pittsburgh into fourth place in the NL Wild Card standings. With the Cardinals and Mets losing, as well, the Pirates moved to within 3 1/2 games of the second Wild Card spot. Pending the outcome of the Giants’ …

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