Colin Moran hit a two-run homer, Gregory Polanco added a solo shot, and Josh Bell doubled three times Thursday for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who topped the visiting Atlanta Braves 6-1 to take two of three in their series.
It was the first series win by the Pirates since they took three of four May 16-19 at San Diego. They had lost four straight series.
One of Bell's doubles drove in two runs. His total of 25 two-baggers leads the major leagues. His 45 extra-base hits also lead the majors and represent a club record through 61 games.
Freddie Freeman hit a homer and walked, and Brian McCann and Austin Riley had two hits apiece for the Braves, who had won six of their previous seven series.
Pittsburgh starter Chris Archer (3-5) gave up one run and six hits in six-plus innings, with six strikeouts and two walks. He won for a second straight start after previously not getting a win since April 7.
Felipe Vazquez got the final four outs, albeit after loading the bases in the ninth, for his 15th save.
Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (1-5) pitched six innings, allowing three runs, all on back-to-back homers, and six hits, with five strikeouts and one walk. He retired the final 10 batters he faced. He has coughed up 15 homers in 44 1/3 innings this season.
The Braves took a 1-0 lead on Freeman's 16th homer, a shot to the PNC Park bushes in center, with two outs in the first.
Pittsburgh answered in the second. Bell led off with a double to right, and Moran homered for the second straight game. His blast to right for his eighth dinger gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
Polanco followed with a homer on a curveball, his sixth and also to right, to increase the margin to 3-1.
Bell hit a two-out, two-run double in the eighth off Jacob Webb to make it 5-1. Elias Diaz followed with a double to drive in Bell.
--Field Level Media
Atlanta | Pittsburgh | |
Mike Foltynewicz | Player | Chris Archer |
Loss | W/L | Win |
6.0 | IP | 6.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 6 |
6 | Hits | 6 |
4.50 | ERA | 1.50 |
Atlanta | Pittsburgh | |
Brian McCann | Player | Josh Bell |
2 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 6 |
.667 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Atlanta | 7 | 1 | 11 | .212 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Pittsburgh | 9 | 2 | 20 | .290 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |