At the very end, Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez leaped into the air and pumped a fist. “Pure, genuine excitement,” he would say later. This was another night when the Pirates showed the world they’re made of the right stuff, that they’re a tough, resilient, confident baseball team.

The Pulse of the Postseason kept humming along on Tuesday night, and the two most storied franchises of the American League East were doing their part to keep themselves relevant all the way into October.

After a weekend sweep of the Pirates that featured three quality starts, Shelby Miller continued the rotation’s roll with another on Tuesday. With 6 2/3 scoreless innings and the support of Matt Holliday’s sixth-inning blast, Miller lifted the Cardinals to a 4-2 win over a Brewers club that has beaten St. Louis just three times in 14 tries this season.

The Nationals continue to gain ground in the Wild Card standings as they beat the Mets, 6-3, at Citi Field on Tuesday night. The Nationals are now six games behind the Reds for the second and final National League Wild Card spot. Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann won his NL-leading 17th game of the season, but it wasn’t easy as he lasted only five-plus innings, allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out four batters.

With Francisco Liriano back in ace mode and Nos. 2-3 hitters Jordy Mercer and Andrew McCutchen combining for seven hits, two runs and three RBIs, the Pirates edged the Rangers, 5-4, on Tuesday night at Rangers Ballpark. The Cardinals won, so the Bucs remained one back of the Cards in the National League Central.

Righty Jarrod Parker gave up two solo home runs and was in line for the win, but reliever Ryan Cook gave up a go-ahead jack in the eighth as the A’s dropped a 4-3 decision to the Twins on Tuesday night.

Rick Porcello bounced back from a rough outing to toss his first complete game and the Tigers tallied five unearned runs en route to a 9-1 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday night in Chicago. Prince Fielder (HR, two RBIs) and Alex Avila (two RBIs) each had four hits.

In picking against her hometown Rockies on Tuesday night, Camille Emily Svendson, 23, became the 11th member to enter Beat the Streak Club 40 in 2013.

Put runners in scoring position and the Tampa Bay Rays come up empty. In blunt terms, they choke. The Rays, who led the rugged American League East by percentage points on Aug. 25, have been in an out-of-control free fall. They’re a Major League-worst 4-12 since then, trying desperately to hold onto the AL’s second Wild Card berth.

The lack of early run support for Martin Perez, who had his roughest start in nearly two months, led to yet another September loss, a 5-4 setback to the Pirates on Tuesday night at Rangers Ballpark. The A’s also lost, so the Rangers remain two games behind Oakland in the American League West and lead the AL Wild Card race.

Alfonso Soriano hit a solo home run off Miguel Gonzalez in the sixth inning and then delivered a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth off Kevin Gausman, leading the Yankees to a 7-5 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards. Alex Rodriguez had two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in the win.

Braves outfielder Justin Upton exited the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Marlins with what appeared to be a bruised right knee.

Julio Teheran rebounded from a rocky first inning in impressive fashion and benefited from the contributions of a suddenly rejuvenated Evan Gattis provided as the Braves took another step toward clinching the National League East with Tuesday night’s 4-3 win over the Marlins.

Led by starter Jeremy Guthrie, the Royals won Tuesday’s game, 6-3, snapping a six-game losing streak at Progressive Field and evening this week’s key series. Kansas City is three games back in the AL Wild Card race.

The dizzying high of taking back-to-back series from the Cardinals and Dodgers has quickly given way to the rapid descent of losing back-to-back games and a series to the last-place Cubs. Tuesday was a textbook blowout, as the Reds were handed a 9-1 defeat at Great American Ball Park. And then there was the added twist and turn no one on Cincinnati’s side wanted — the return of back trouble for rookie starting pitcher Tony Cingrani.

In an impressive return to action, Clay Buchholz fired five shutout innings, leading the Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over David Price and the Rays on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles’ bullpen surrendered four eighth-inning runs Tuesday, negating an offensive effort highlighted by Chris Davis’ 49th homer in a 7-5, series-evening loss that moves the Yankees within a half-game of Baltimore in the American League Wild Card race.