Mike Yastrzemski’s ninth-inning grand slam was one of three home runs which propelled the Atlanta Braves to a 10-5 win over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon.
With Atlanta leading 6-5 heading into the final frame, Yastrzemski’s sixth home run of the season and third career grand slam, gave the Braves their first series victory in Pittsburgh in four years.
The blast came off of Pirates reliever Dennis Santana, who gave up the game-winning homer on Wednesday night to Joey Bart in a 3-0 Atlanta victory.
Atlanta rookie Jim Jarvis finished with three hits, including his first career home run in the fourth inning off reliever Cam Sanders. Drake Baldwin also had two hits, including an RBI single that followed Jarvis’ homer and gave the Braves a 6-2 lead.
Pirates starter Mitch Keller (6-7) lasted three innings, giving up three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Matt Olson put the Braves ahead in the first inning with a two-out solo home run — his 25th of the season — to right field off Keller, who gave up a home run for the sixth time in his past seven starts.
Atlanta tacked on two more in the third on an RBI double by Ozzie Albies and a two-out RBI single by Mauricio Dubon to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Pirates answered in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back home runs off Atlanta starter Bryce Elder to cut the Braves’ lead to 3-2. Bryan Reynolds belted his 14th of the season and Esmerlyn Valdez followed with his seventh.
After falling behind 6-2, the Pirates again answered with the long ball when Jake Mangum hit a two-run home run for his second of the season in the bottom of the fourth.
Dylan Dodd (2-0) relieved Elder after he pitched four innings and allowed three earned runs (four overall) on five hits and two walks while striking out three. Elder has given up eight home runs in his last four starts.
Mangum finished with four hits, including an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, which pulled the Pirates within a run.
The Atlanta bullpen allowed only one run and three hits over five innings.
The game was delayed due to inclement weather for 35 minutes after the end of the fifth inning.
–Field Level Media
