August 9 – Kevin Pillar and Orlando Arcia drove in three runs in the ninth inning to lift the Atlanta Braves to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Matt Olson walked and advanced to third on Travis d’Arnaud’s double as Atlanta trailed entering the ninth. On Marcell Ozuna’s fielder’s choice, Olson was out in a rundown. Pillar’s left-field single scored Nicky Lopez, who pinch-ran for d’Arnaud, and Arcia’s left-field double made it 8-6.
Ronald Acuna Jr., the Braves’ standout right fielder, left the game in the sixth inning after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch. X-rays revealed no break, according to the team.
Acuna and Arcia each homered, and d’Arnaud added a two-run double to help the Braves stop a three-game losing slide. Arcia went 3-for-5 with three RBI.
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In five innings, Atlanta starter Yonny Chirinos allowed six runs and seven hits. Kirby Yates (6-0) threw a scoreless eighth inning. Raisel Iglesias came in to pitch the ninth for his 21st save.
The Pirates, who had won two straight, got home runs from Ke’Bryan Hayes, Alfonso Rivas, Josh Palacios, and Bryan Reynolds.
In five innings, Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller allowed three runs and nine hits while striking out four batters. In the ninth, David Bednar (3-2) allowed three runs.
Acuna opened the game with his 26th home run of the season, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen walked ahead of Hayes’ sixth homer to left in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 Pittsburgh advantage.
Atlanta tied the game in the third. Ozzie Albies singled and advanced to third on Olson’s single before scoring on d’Arnaud’s double.
Rivas’ second homer, to center, in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
Leading off the sixth, Palacios and Reynolds both homered. Palacios’ fourth-of-the-year shot to right-center and Reynolds’ 15th-of-the-year bomb to center made it 6-3.
Arcia launched his 12th homer to left-center in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 6-4. Following that, Michael Harris II singled, and Acuna was hit by a pitch, with Forrest Wall pinch running. Austin Riley walked after Albies struck out to load the bases. Olson drew a walk to force in a run, bringing the score to 6-5 and earning him his major-league-leading 100th RBI.