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Strip District Heats Up Over The Pirates

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) --- The Pirates and their fans are trying to forget a three game sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres this week.

After a day off, the Buccos are back in action against an old nemisis as Milwaukee comes calling.

"Here it is the end of August and you are talking to me about baseball. That's a much better place than we we were one year ago. And another thing I love is to come down here to the Strip District and seeing other people from other cities wearing their teams uniforms coming to Pittsburgh to celebrate what we have going on," says Dave Carver of Crafton Heights

Elmer Ahkmedzanov runs the lemonade stand in the Strip District and he hears lots of Pirates talk.

"They are talking about it all the time. People ask when they are playing and who they are playing with. [People say] aww I missed the game, and what's the score," says Ahkmedzanov.

Old timers with memories of Maz and his miracle of 1960 have embraced these young Bucs despite their recent woes.

"I feel bad for McCutchen. I think that once he got hit a couple games back, he seems a little gun shy now. I do still think we'll be in there. We'll be in the wild card," says Jim Pierce.

The familiar cheer of "Let's Go Bucs" has been raised here for years and years. But, despite the fact that the Steelers are getting set for their third pre-season game, people still have Pirate fever here in the strip.

"I've been waiting my whole life. I've been a Pirate fan since I was born and never got to see them win," says fan, Brad Shear.

Even natives who have moved away continue to follow the Pirates' every move from afar.

"I'm still excited about it because it's been 20 years and it's just so exciting to see meaningful ball in Pittsburgh again. Even though we are in Virginia, we are never detached from it," says Ruth Kimmel.

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