Gattis Hits Tiebreaking Home Run To Lead Braves Over Pirates, 6-4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pinch-hitter Evan Gattis connected for a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Thursday night.
Atlanta brothers B.J. and Justin Upton homered in the same game for the second time this season as the Braves continued their torrid play. Atlanta improved to a major league-best 13-2 after Gattis hit a sinker from Jared Hughes (1-1) into the left-field bleachers for the first pinch-hit homer of his career.
Anthony Varvaro (1-0) won in relief of starter Julio Teheran. Craig Kimbrel worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
Russell Martin and Pedro Alvarez each hit their first homer of the year, but the Pirates couldn't climb above .500. Travis Snider added two doubles and Garrett Jones drove in two runs.
The Uptons homered in the ninth inning of a 6-5 comeback win over the Cubs on April 6. This time, they didn't wait so long to get started. B.J. Upton led off the game with a shot to left and Justin added a solo drive of his own in the fifth for his ninth of the season, most in the majors.
Their power kept the Braves in it following another subpar start from Teheran.
Atlanta pitchers came in with a 1.77 ERA — easily the best in baseball — but Teheran continued to be the one member of the starting staff still searching for solid footing. The 22-year-old struggled with his command in five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking three.
Teheran had been lights out against right-handed batters but surrendered Martin's first homer with the Pirates leading off the second. Alvarez — in the midst of a 4 for 45 (.089) slump to begin the season — drilled a 91 mph slider to the batter's eye leading off the fourth.
While Teheran is a permanent part of Atlanta's future, Pittsburgh left-hander Jeff Locke's job security is more tenuous. He won a starting spot almost by default after injuries to Jeff Karstens and Francisco Liriano gave the Pirates a major hole at the back end of the rotation.
Locke's first two starts were adequate and manager Clint Hurdle said there is a "window" for Locke to convince the Pirates to keep him around even after Liriano and Karstens return. The 25-year-old Locke struggled keeping the Uptons — and their teammates — in check, giving up four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4 2-3 innings.
Both starters left the game with a 4-all tie before the Braves broke through against Hughes.
Andrelton Simmons led off the eighth with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before Gattis entered as a pinch-hitter. Pittsburgh pitching coach Ray Searage came out to chat with Hughes, but three pitches later Gattis turned on a 92 mph sinker and drilled it down the left-field line to put the Braves in front to stay.
Atlanta is unbeaten when it scores. The Braves' only losses have come by shutout, including a 1-0 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday that ended a 10-game winning streak.
The Braves picked right back up at the start of a 10-game road trip, trading shots with the Pirates through five before breaking away late.
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