If the Pittsburgh Pirates were piloting an actual vessel adorned with a black skull-and-crossbones flag, they'd be sailing with a stiff wind at their back.
Sunday was the latest salvo in their swashbuckling streak, as the Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 in 10 innings at PNC Park to take three of four from the Cards, sauntering within 2.5 games of first place in the National League Central.
Really, though, the Bucs have been rolling for weeks. After going 17-9 in June, they've won 10 of 12 in July and head into the All-Star break at 53-35, the second-best record in the Senior Circuit.