Nick Gonzales drives in four as Pirates pummel Braves 11-5

Field Level Media|published: Fri 24th May, 21:42 2024

May 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales (39) runs to first base with a two-run single against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Gonzales went 2-for-3 with a career-high four RBIs and Edward Olivares went 3-for-5 with two RBIs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 11-5 win against the visiting Atlanta Braves on Friday.

Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter (3-2) allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four in 7 1/3 innings.

Braves starter Ray Kerr (1-1) allowed five runs on seven hits while fanning six in four innings.

Pittsburgh opened up an 11-0 lead on Atlanta before Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a three-run home run and Travis d'Arnaud added a two-run double in the eighth to save face.

Andrew McCutchen led off the first with a fly-ball single to left field and Connor Joe hit a one-out double. After Olivares struck out, Gonzales delivered a two-out single, driving in both runners for a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Joe doubled off the left-field wall, moved to third when Kerr's pickoff attempt rolled into the outfield, and scored to push it to 3-0 when Olivares singled to center.

Olivares moved to second on Gonzales' sacrifice bunt and went to third on a wild pitch to Oneil Cruz, who drew a two-out walk. Yasmani Grandal then belted a double on a line drive to right field to send both runners home and extend it to 5-0.

The Braves went out in order in each of the first three innings before finally reaching base with their first hit in the fourth when Acuna singled to left field.

Jared Triolo padded Pittsburgh's lead in the bottom of the fifth off reliever Darius Vines. Gonzales drew a one-out walk and Triolo knocked a two-run shot to left-center field to make it 7-0.

In the sixth, McCutchen reached on a one-out double and scored on Olivares' fly-ball single to center. Joe was hit by a pitch before Olivares' hit, and both of them came home on a double by Gonzales to make it a 10-0 ballgame.

Pinch runner Alika Williams pushed it to 11-0 in the seventh, scoring on Michael Taylor's sacrifice fly.

Atlanta broke through in the eighth inning. After Michael Harris II singled and Zack Short drew a one-out walk, Acuna knocked a three-run shot into center field to make it 11-3 and end Falter's night.

With two outs, d'Arnaud doubled off reliever Luis L. Ortiz to drive in Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson.

--Field Level Media

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