ATLANTA BRAVES NOTCH ANOTHER WIN IN PITTSBURGH OVER PIRATES, ROME BRAVES OPEN SERIES IN BOWLING GREEN, KY WITH LOSS TO HOT RODS

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Tuesday evening in the middle outing of a three-game set at PNC Park in Pittsburgh; that resulted in a 2-0 series lead for the Braves, who are now just two games back from the National League East-leading New York Mets (who were handed another loss by the New York Yankees on Tuesday night).

The Pirates struck first with a solo home run by Michael Chavis in the bottom of the second inning. It was the only run given up by Max Fried, who picked up the win for Atlanta after also surrendering just three hits, walking one, and striking out seven over eight innings. JT Brubaker was charged with the loss for Pittsburgh.

The Braves notched five runs off Brubaker during the top of the fifth. Travis d’Arnaud began the hit parade with a home run. Vaughn Grissom and Robbie Grossman each contributed RBI singles in that inning, and the Braves nabbed two more runs on a ground out by Dansby Swanson and a sac fly from Austin Riley. Riley chipped in an RBI single in the seventh.

First pitch of the Braves’ series finale versus the Pirates is scheduled for this afternoon at 12:35 pm. Listen locally on WLAQ 1410 AM/96.9 FM; airtime is 11:20 am.

In a minor league update, the Rome Braves dropped the opener of a six-game series in Bowling Green, Kentucky to the Hot Rods by a final score of 3-1 on Tuesday night. Game two is slated for tonight at 7:35 pm.