Matt Olson homered and later scored the eventual winning run in the top of the 11th on a wild pitch to propel the Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
Olson, who hit his seventh home run of the season in the third, was the automatic runner at second in the 11th and moved to third on a groundout by Ozzie Albies. Olson was unable to score on Sean Murphy’s ensuing groundout, but he came home when Pirates reliever Chase Shugart (1-3) fired a pitch low and inside that barely missed the batter, Eli White, on its way to the backstop.
Scott Blewett (2-0), who pitched a scoreless 10th, worked a perfect 11th despite the automatic runner Alexander Canario reaching third on a sacrifice bunt by Jared Triolo. Blewett struck out Liover Peguero looking and retired Tommy Pham on a groundout to end the game.
Peguero was hitting for the first time after replacing Oneil Cruz, who left the game after the 10th inning with lower back tightness.
The Braves improved to 5-0 in extra-inning games this season while the Pirates fell to 2-3 in such games. Pittsburgh has lost 11 of its last 13.
The Braves led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth before Joey Bart, who led the Pirates with four hits and an RBI, singled with one out. Ji Hwan Bae pinch ran for Bart, stole second and reached third on a groundout by Ke’Bryan Hayes. Matt Gorski then reached on an infield single to third off reliever Daysbel Hernandez as Bae scored to tie the game.
The Pirates went on to load the bases after Hernandez walked Adam Frazier intentionally and Alexander Canario unintentionally, but Triolo flew out to end the inning.
Pittsburgh failed to capitalize on chances to win in each of the next three innings, too.
Michael Harris II opened the scoring for Atlanta with an RBI double in the second.
The Pirates’ Don Kelly, managing his second game since being elevated to the job Thursday, was ejected in the top of the sixth after arguing with home-plate umpire Clint Vondrak from the dugout. Third base coach Mike Rabelo managed the remainder of the game.
Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds was ejected in the bottom of the seventh after a strikeout.
–Field Level Media
