NATE BARNES
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Atlanta Braves held a two-run lead as Alex Wood cruised into the eighth inning after seven shutout innings. A sixth-straight win was inevitable for the Braves against a seemingly-listless Pittsburgh Pirates team that had lost seven games in a row.
Then the script flipped.
Wood issued a walk to Gaby Sanchez and allowed a double to Travis Snider, and was removed from the game. Jordan Walden entered and allowed each of his inherited runners to score and tie the game in the eighth.
In the ninth, Justin Upton dropped a routine fly ball to left-centerfield in the ninth inning which set the stage for Gaby Sanchez’s game-winning sacrifice fly that capped a late-inning comeback as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Wednesday night.
“We make that play 99 1-2 out of 100 times,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
With Upton and his brother B.J. in centerfield, they played deep in order to prevent a run scoring from first base on a double. Marte’s drive split them perfectly.
“We both got there at the same time,” Justin Upton said. “I took the lead and tried to go get it, and it just tipped off the end of my glove.”
David Carpenter (4-4) took the loss after allowing an unearned run to cross. Jordy Mercer led off with a single and Starling Marte’s fly ball to left-center advanced him to third, where Mercer tagged up on Sanchez’s flyout.
Pittsburgh’s win snapped a seven-game losing streak, and ended Atlanta’s five-game winning streak.
“To get the two to tie it up then some help and to win,” manager Clint Hurdle said, “yeah, it’s a real nice shot in the arm.”
Upton drove in a run with a single in the first inning after Jason Heyward walked and Freddie Freeman singled. Upton’s single extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
After allowing a double to Evan Gattis leading off the second, Pittsburgh right-hander Gerrit Cole retired the next 12 batters he faced before Heyward singled in the sixth.
Heyward scored again on a RBI single by Chris Johnson for a 2-0 Atlanta lead, and finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Josh Harrison led off the first with a double, but was picked off by Atlanta left-hander Alex Wood. He was ruled out on a replay-review that overturned a safe call on Alex Wood’s throw over.
Pittsburgh didn’t place another man in scoring position until the eighth inning when Wood issued a walk to Sanchez and Travis Snider doubled before Wood recorded an out.
Jordan Walden entered and allowed each of his inherited runners to score. Chris Stewart brought Sanchez home with a RBI groundout to first base and Snider scored on a wild pitch as Walden walked Neil Walker.
Mark Melancon (2-3) worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn a win.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: SS Andrelton Simmons (hip) started for the Braves after he was removed from Tuesday’s game. … RHP Shae Simmons (right shoulder soreness) is shut down for the near future after he felt soreness following his second rehab outing with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton (hip) says his injury is a sports hernia. He was placed on the disabled list Monday, retroactive to Aug. 16, with what the team called right hip inflammation. Manager Clint Hurdle said the plan is to “try to calm the hip down.” Morton will likely see a doctor soon and a return-to-pitch program for this season is still a possibility. … SS Clint Barmes (groin) went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run in his second rehab game with Triple-A Indianapolis.
ON DECK
Braves: Atlanta continues its road trip with a three-game series at Great American Ballpark against the Cincinnati Reds. RHP Julio Teheran (11-9, 3.06 ERA looks for his first career win against the Reds and LHP David Holmberg (0-0, 16.88 ERA)
Pirates: Pittsburgh receives an off-day Thursday as the Pirates travel to Milwaukee for a three-game set over the weekend with their division-rival Brewers. LHP Jeff Locke (4-3, 3.73 ERA) matches up with RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-6, 3.32 ERA) Friday night, who Locke previously lost a decision to June 8 at PNC Park when the Brewers won 1-0.
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