ATLANTA– Oneil Cruz and Rowdy Tellez Each hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates take advantage of Bailey hesitatesThe strong start of ‘s to beat Atlanta Braves 4-2 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.
Bryan Reynolds’ 25-game hitting streak ended with two strikeouts and two groundouts in his four at-bats. It was the longest streak in the majors this season and the Pirates’ longest since Kenny Lofton’s 26-game streak in 2003.
The Pirates’ four-run fifth inning began with a successful challenge that resulted in Jack Suwinski being hit by a pitch Spencer Schellenbach (1-4). With two outs, Cruz hit a home run that traveled 452 feet into the right field bleachers and had an exit velocity of 117.3 mph. It was his 12th home run of the season.
Schwellenbach walked Eduardo Olivares before Tellez hit his fourth home run off the right field foul pole.
The Pirates (40-43) capped a day from June 14 to 12.
“I think we had a solid month,” Téllez said. “It was a good way to end it.”
Téllez ended an 0-for-8 drought with his home run.
Falter (4-6) walked four in five innings, but the left-hander allowed only one run and two hits. Falter struck out the team in the second and had five strikeouts in total before being affected by temperatures around 90 degrees.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so red on the mound,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Falter.
Falter acknowledged that the Georgia heat was unbearable.
“After the fourth, I literally felt like I was under a magnifying glass,” Falter said.
Falter ended a four-game losing streak since his last win, also against the Braves, on May 24 in Pittsburgh.
Marcell Ozuna He walked to open the fourth and scored the Braves’ only run off Falter. Austin RileyThe ground ball for a double play.
Aroldis Chapman earned his third save despite allowing one run in the ninth. Adam Duvall‘s single and double by Sean MurphyMichael A. Taylor made a diving catch of Orlando Arcia‘s sinking liner became a sacrifice fly. Chapman finished the game with short zackIt’s a ground ball.
On Saturday, Chapman surpassed Billy Wagner’s record for most career strikeouts by a left-handed reliever.
He Atlanta Falcons‘The first overall pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, Zaccharie Risacher of France, was wearing a No. 10 Braves jersey when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Risacher, who will wear No. 10 as a backup player for the Hawks, was near the plate when he threw out his pitch.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: designated hitter Andrew McCutchen He left the game after three at-bats due to what Shelton described as “just a little illness… He’s fine.”
Braves: RHP Ian Anderson pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, for Class A Augusta on Sunday as he continued his return from Tommy John surgery. … OF Ramon Laureano (lower back) missed his fourth consecutive game.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Pirates: LD Mitch Keller (9-4, 3.20 ERA) will start Tuesday night when the Pirates open a home series against RHP. Kyle Gibson (5-3, 3.70 ERA) and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Braves: RHP Reynaldo Lopez (6-2, 1.70 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Hayden birdsong (0-0, 5.79 ERA) on Tuesday night in the opener of a home series against San Francisco.