Spencer Horwitz hit a pair of home runs to help the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates roll to a 9-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in the opener of their three-game series on Friday.
Pittsburgh (70-90) has won three of four against Atlanta (75-85) this season. The Pirates, winners of five of their last six games, are trying to win their first season series against the Braves since 2017.
Horwitz hit a solo homer off reliever Joel Payamps in the seventh inning and added a three-run homer off Pierce Johnson in the ninth, giving him 11 for the season.
Horwitz was 3-for-3 with two walks and four RBIs to pace Pittsburgh’s 14-hit attack. Horwitz is 9-for-11 with five home runs in his career against the Braves.
Pittsburgh’s Tommy Pham had a two-run homer, his 10th, to spark a four-run second inning and give the Pirates their first lead.
Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller was victimized by a high pitch count that resulted in an early departure. The right-hander threw 89 pitches — including a season-high five walks — and left after 3 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on three hits and struck out six.
Yohan Ramirez (3-3) struck out Atlanta slugger Matt Olson to end the inning and earned the win.
Joey Wentz (5-7) took the loss for the Braves. He pitched four innings and allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks, with three strikeouts.
The Braves scored their first two runs on a pair of home runs. Olson hit a solo shot in the first inning, his 29th, and Michael Harris II hit a solo homer in the sixth. It was the 20th home run for Harris, who became the franchise’s 24th player to have 20 homers and 20 stolen bases since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966.
Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin went 1-for-3 and extended his hitting streak to a career-long nine games with an RBI single. He leads all N.L. rookies with 80 RBIs.
The game was interrupted by a 49-minute rain delay with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.
