Pirates’ 2015 Home Opener

Pirates’ Neil Walker, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte celebrate their team’s win. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

A batting helmet left in the dugout after the Pirates Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on Monday. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Pirates fans after the Pirates Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

The grounds crew works on the field after the end the Pirates Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on Monday (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

The grounds crew works on the field after the end the Pirates Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Dan Nagy, left, of High Point, NC, and his dad Bill Nagy, center, celebrate a home run by Pedro Alvarez in the 7th inning, during the Pirates Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on Monday, April 13, 2015. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

The grounds crew works on the field after the end the Pirates Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on Monday (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Gerrit Cole throws a pitch during the Pirates home opener against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. (Andrew Rush / Post-Gazette)

Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco walk off the field between innings. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)

Fans cheer on the team in the seventh inning. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli congratulates Mark Melancon after closing out the Tigers. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

Francisco Cervelli (29) celebrates with Corey Hart (12) after Hart’s two-run homer. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)

Late in the game, Donovan Collazo-Mateer, five months old, got a lift from mom Marlayna Collazo of Banksville. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Zach Sedor and Suzanne Sedor enjoy the warm weather at the park. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky jokes with a fan in the early innings. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Lou Ann and Mark McDonnell of Churchill with their Pirates doll, that they have been bringing to games since the 1970’s. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

The grounds crew makes a last sweep of the infield. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

A flag is unfurled by season ticket holders on the field during the singing of the National Anthem. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

‘The Voice’ finalist Chris Jamison sings the National Anthem. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

Players stand for the National Anthem moments before the first pitch. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle applauds after Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen receive Silver Slugger awards during pre-game ceremonies. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

PNC Park was packed shortly before the start of the game. (Zack Tanner/Post-Gazette)

Hundreds of Pirates fans disembark the Gateway Clipper before the start of the game. (Nate Guidry/Post-Gazette)

Lawson Hammond left, Jessica Passinita and Greg Krayer take the Mon Incline to Carson Street before heading to PNC Park. (Nate Guidry/Post-Gazette)

Pitcher A.J. Burnett takes the field during introductions. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Pirate outfield Andrew McCutchen sports his new short hair during the home opener. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Color guard got instructions from Pirates’ event coordinator Cory Nestico. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Jackson Geiger, 6, of Mars, joined the Pirate Parrot as a “side kick” and signed autographs. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Stephen Santella of Ross gets in the mood for the Pirates opening day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on the North Side Monday. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Ryan Caldwell busks on the Roberto Clemente bridge before the opening day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on the North Side Monday. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Paige LaBrozzi of Butler, Sarah Langy of Etna and Ashlie Harrington of Bradford hang out on the Roberto Clemente Bridge before the opening day game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park on the North Side Monday. (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)

Marion Mays of Oakland dressed as Santa and sang “Riders on the Storm,” despite the sunny 70-degree weather. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Ken Brisco of Whitehall shows off his Pittsburgh tattoos while daughter Natalya, 4, holds his hand. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)

Debbie Marafioti of Monroeville, Joan Newill of Greensburg and Charlie Love of Butler waited for gates to open. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette

Andrew Burnette holds the line as Derek Hurlburt paints the black edge to the Pirates’ logo “P,” behind home plate at PNC Park for the Pirates home opener (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette).

Sean Flanagan , of Bellaire, Ohio, empties bags of cheese and pepperoni as he gets ready for a “tailgate party” of 25, in a lot near PNC Park before the Pirates Home Opener (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette).

Some of the autographed champagne bottles from the 2014 Celebration on display at the Hunt Auctions Store at PNC Park, before the Pirates’ home opener (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle walks to a press conference Monday morning before his team’s home opener against the Tigers at PNC Park. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

A “waning crescent” Moon rises over PNC Park’s lights Monday morning. The Pirates play the Detroit Tigers for “Opening Day”(Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

Frank Giordano of Carrick stretches to use his squeegee on the windows of the press box overlooking the field at PNCPark hours before the Pirates’ opening day game. (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

Clouds roll over PNC Park at daylight for the Pirates Home Opener (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette).

The bright lights of PNC Park loom over the Allegheny River early Monday morning. (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

The bright lights , at PNC Park , outshine the commuter traffic crossing Point State Park with the Ft. Pitt and Ft Duquesne Bridges, early Monday morning. The lights were on for Pirates Home Opener. (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

A waning crescent moon rises over PNC Park in the early morning hours of the Pirates’ home opener. (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)