PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen was in mid-answer when teammate A.J. Burnett stuck a bottle of champagne inside the jersey of the star Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder and turned it upside down.
"Feels good," McCutchen said with a laugh as the bottle emptied, further drenching his already soaked uniform. "I could get used to this."
The Reds proved no match. Votto went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Jay Bruce produced an RBI single in the fourth but Cincinnati never really threatened on a night playoff baseball officially returned to Pittsburgh.
Tuesday night, nine innings of dominance that also served as a coming out party for a franchise eager to escape a generation of misery.
Pirates against St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright in Game 1 on Thursday.