Pirates clinch playoff spot, beat Braves 3-2

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) forces out Atlanta Braves Emilo Bonifacio at second base on a ball hit by Phil Gosselin during the first inning of Tuesday's game in Atlanta. - photo by John Bazemore | Associated Press

0924Braves1 — Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer (10) forces out Atlanta Braves Emilo Bonifacio at second base on a ball hit by Phil Gosselin during the first inning of Tuesday's game in Atlanta. - photo by John Bazemore | Associated Press

ATLANTA — Gerrit Cole retired the final 17 hitters he faced, and the surging Pittsburgh Pirates clinched a spot in the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the free-falling Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. The Pirates' win combined with Milwaukee's loss to Cincinnati assured Pittsburgh of no worse than an NL wild card. The Pirates wrapped up their berth exactly one year after clinching a place in the 2013 playoffs.

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