Joey Bart had two hits plus the walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon.
With the bases loaded and one out, Bart lined a ball to the third base side that was stopped by Atlanta shortstop Nick Allen, but his throw home was not in time, allowing Adam Frazier to score.
The Pirates won for the second time in three games since dismissing former manager Derek Shelton and promoting bench coach Don Kelly. It was their first series win since winning two of three at the Los Angeles Angels on April 22-24.
Frazier led off the ninth with a pinch-hit single off Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias (2-3), and Ke’Bryan Hayes followed with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Bryan Reynolds grounded out and Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Bart’s game winner.
It was Bart’s second walk-off of the season and the Pirates’ third overall. Bart, who had two RBI, followed up a four-hit game on Saturday.
The Pirates prevailed despite letting a 3-0 lead slip away in the eighth inning when Sean Murphy roped a three-run double with two outs to the left center field gap off reliever Joey Wentz.
The Braves loaded the bases after the Pirates replaced reliever Ryan Borucki, who recorded the first two outs of the inning, with Tanner Rainey. Austin Riley singled, Matt Olson doubled and Rainey walked Marcell Ozuna before he was replaced by Wentz.
Dennis Santana (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for Pittsburgh to keep the game tied.
Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski pitched a career-high 5 2/3 innings and dueled with former Cy Young winner Chris Sale, who was unable to replicate the success of his previous two starts despite striking out eight. Sale allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits overall and walked two on 99 pitches. Mlodzinski allowed four hits, struck out two and walked one on 83 pitches.
Drake Baldwin and Allen each had two hits to lead the Braves.
Pittsburgh’s Alexander Canario, who doubled and walked, started in center field as Oneil Cruz sat out with lower back tightness he began suffering late in Saturday’s game.
