PITTSBURGH -- Brian Snitker couldn't have himself in a tougher spot in his first game as a major league manager with his Atlanta Braves trailing 9-0.

It looked like Snitker might end up having a debut for the ages, though, when the Braves cut the deficit two runs in the seventh inning, but the Pittsburgh Pirates held for a 12-9 victory.

Snitker was promoted to interim manager earlier Tuesday when Fredi Gonzalez was fired while in his first sixth season. Snitker has been in the organization since 1977 and was managing the Triple-A Gwinnett farm club.

The Braves battled back under Snitker, who replaced the fired Fredi Gonzalez, but lost for the 10th time in the last 12 games to fall to 9-29, the worst mark in the major leagues. They are 20 games under .500 for the first time since 1911 when the franchise was located in Boston and known as the Rustlers.

"I saw everything that everybody told me," Snitker said. "When I came in here this afternoon and met with the coaching staff, that's the one thing that they said. (Bench coach Terry Pendleton) said, 'Snit, the record's not good but these guys never quit. And they just keep fighting.'

"And that's exactly what they did. It was really cool to see."

Francisco Cervelli, who signed a three-year, $31-million contract extension earlier in the day, was one of four Pirates with three hits along with John Jaso, Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco as the Pirates pounded a season-high 21 while winning their third straight game.

"This is one of the best days of my life," Cervelli said. "This is amazing. I feel this is my house, a place I want to be for the rest of my career. I've got the best teammates, the best coaches and the best fans. I can't thank them enough.

"I'm going to continue to do the best I can to represent the jersey the best way I can and, of course, try to win a championship."

Matt Joyce, Josh Harrison and winning pitcher Juan Nicasio had two hits apiece.

"It's a lot of fun when everyone is hitting at the same time," Polanco said. "We were all feeling good but we had to stay ready. It seemed like I was up to bat every inning tonight but that's fun, too."

Jaso, McCutchen and Cervelli drove in two runs.

Rookie outfielder Mallex Smith had the first two-homer game of his career for the Braves. Gordon Beckham had three hits while Ender Inciarte, Reid Brignac Nick Markakis added two each as Atlanta had 14.

Smith's second homer of the game and third of the season was a two-run shot in the seventh off Arqiumedes Caminero that capped a three-run inning and drew the Braves with 11-9.

"The two homers are nice but they don't really matter because we lost," Smith said.

The Pirates got a run back in the bottom of the inning when McCutchen tripled and scored on a wild pitch by Jason Grilli.

Nicasio (4-3) struggled through five innings for the win, giving up five runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in five innings.

Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances.

Rookie Aaron Blair (0-3) was rocked for nine runs in 1 1/3 innings.

The Pirates erupted for seven runs in the first inning as Jaso led off with a single and took third on Polanco's one-out double.

Jung Ho Kang then hit a grounder to third baseman Beckham, who threw home. However, catcher A.J. Pierzynski dropped the throw for an error, allowing Jaso to score.

RBI singles by Cerveili, Harrison and Nicasio extended the lead to 4-0 before Jaso hit a two-run double and McCutchen capped the inning with an RBI single.

Blair was chased during a two-run second that pushed the Pirates' lead to 9-0. Polanco led off with a double and scored on a double by Cervelli, who came home on Jordy Mercer's single.

NOTES: Pirates INF/OF Alen Hanson got his first major league hit with a pinch-hit single off Braves LHP Bud Norris in the fifth inning. Hanson was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis on Monday when LF Starling Marte went on the paternity list. Hanson made his debut that night and struck out as a pinch-hitter. ... Atlanta SS Erick Aybar was not in the starting lineup a night after being slow to react to a pair of ground balls that eluded his reach for singles. ... Braves RHP Julio Teheran (0-4, 3.17 ERA) is scheduled to start against Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano (3-2, 4.99 ERA).