​Mike Yastrzemski delivered the game-sealing blow with a grand slam in the ninth inning, while Matt Olson kicked off the scoring with a first-inning home run that also tied the franchise record for consecutive games played. The Atlanta Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-5 on Thursday. At the time Yastrzemski connected off Dennis Santana, Atlanta led 6-5, marking his third career slam.
Olson’s solo homer was his 25th of the season, opening the scoring for the Braves. Olson extended his streak to 740 consecutive games, dating back to the start of the 2022 season, tying the long-standing mark set by Dale Murphy from 1982-86. In addition, Atlanta rookie Jim Jarvis belted his first career homer, a two-run shot off Cam Sanders during a three-run fourth that pushed the Braves’ lead to 6-2. Jarvis, a rookie shortstop, collected three hits on the day.
Pittsburgh answered with a pair of long balls in the third as Bryan Reynolds and Esmery Valdez homered back-to-back to pull the Pirates within a run at 6-3. Jake Mangum provided a standout performance for Pittsburgh with four hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the fourth that brought the Pirates within 6-4, and an RBI double in the sixth that trimmed the deficit to one.
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder was charged with four runs over four innings. Mitch Keller lasted three innings, giving up three runs and taking the loss to move to 1-5 with a 7.94 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves. Dylan Dodd earned the win with a clean fifth inning, improving to 2-0.
The game was briefly halted by rain for 35 minutes at the end of the fifth inning.
Up next for the Braves: They begin a three-game series in St. Louis on Friday night, with left-hander Chris Sale (9-6, 2.27 ERA) scheduled to start against right-hander Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.86).
For the Pirates: Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.24) will take the mound against visiting Milwaukee and rookie right-hander Brandon Sproat (3-4, 5.13) on Friday night to begin a three-game series.