Braves Vs. Pirates Recap: Pittsburgh Splits Series With Atlanta After 9-3 Win

The Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded from a tough one-run loss to the Braves on Sunday to split their series with Atlanta with a 9-3 win in the finale. The Bucs offense came alive and roughed up Braves' starter Mike Minor, cruising to a 9-3 win, which was powered by a pair of two-run homers.

Pittsburgh starter James McDonald had a shaky first inning, but settled in for seven and two-thirds innings to get the win. McDonald gave up a two-run shot to Freddie Freeman in the top of the first, but that was really all the damage Atlanta would do. The Pirates' starter then mowed down the Braves, setting a career high for strikeouts with 10.

After the Freeman homer, the Bucs evened it up at 2-2 in the third on a single by Josh Harrison and a sac fly by Andrew McCutchen. Pittsburgh would then go ahead for good when Pedro Alvarez smoked a two-run homer to right that traveled 400-plus feet. It was a bomb that gave him five homers on the season, already one more than he had in 74 games last year. Matching Alvarez, Yamaico Navarro hit a two-run homer just two innings later off Minor, putting the Pirates up 6-3. Navarro would add his third RBI of the night in Pittsburgh's three-run seventh that removed all doubt.

It was an impressive offensive outbreak for Clint Hurdle's club, and encouraging to see some continued power from Alvarez. The Bucs now hit the road to take on the defending champion Cardinals for a three-game set that begins in St. Louis on Tuesday. Pittsburgh dropped their first series of the season, 2-1, to the Cardinals at PNC Park.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Braves, there’s Talking Chop.

Pirates Vs. Braves: Pirates Experiment With Lineup Against Lefty Mike Minor

Here’s the Pirates’ lineup for Monday night’s game against Mike Minor and the Atlanta Braves.

Jose Tabata RF
Josh Harrison SS
Andrew McCutchen CF
Casey McGehee 1B
Neil Walker 2B
Yamaico Navarro LF
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Rod Barajas C
James McDonald P

Obviously, this isn’t the Pirates’ typical lineup. Josh Harrison, who hasn’t played much shortstop in either the minors or the majors, starts at that position instead of Clint Barmes. Casey McGehee gives Garrett Jones a break against a lefty, as expect. Pedro Alvarez, who often sits against lefties, starts after hitting well for the past several games. Navarro, normally an infielder but not really a stranger to the outfield, starts in place of the lefty Alex Presley.

The game begins at 7:10 p.m. and completes a four-game series against the Braves. The Pirates travel to St. Louis next.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Braves, there’s Talking Chop.

Pirates Vs. Braves: James McDonald, Mike Minor Square Off In Intriguing Pitching Matchup

At 7:10 p.m. on Sunday, the Pirates and Atlanta Braves finish a four-game series with what could be an interesting pitching matchup — James McDonald took a no-hitter into the seventh and struck out eight in his last start, while the Braves’ Mike Minor hasn’t walked a batter in either of his last two starts and struck out nine Diamondbacks over eight innings a couple innings back. Minor is relying more heavily on his breaking stuff this year, and it looks like he might be emerging as one of the better young lefties in the majors.

Normally, of course, this would mean that we might expect the Pirates to get about three hits, and lose 2-0. But recent hot streaks by Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata might (or might not) give the Pirates a better chance of winning than they would have had a few weeks ago. Alvarez is 9-for-25 with two homers in his past seven games, while Tabata is 11-for-25 in his last seven. Those are small sample sizes, for sure, but those two players are finally hitting the ball with authority after struggling to do so in the first couple weeks of the season.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Braves, there’s Talking Chop.

Pirates Vs. Braves Final Score: Tim Hudson Bests Pittsburgh In Season Debut, 4-3

The Pittsburgh Pirates weren't able to pick up a win in game three of their series with the Atlanta Braves, as Tim Hudson was able to pitch a fine game in his season debut, leading the Braves to a 4-3 victory.

Hudson pitched five innings where he struck out six while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. The Pirates were able to get base runners all afternoon, but couldn't score them, resulting in 10 men left on base.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the top of the second when Jose Tabata knocked in two runs with a single. Tabata was very impressive today, going 3-for-5.

The Braves took advantage of a less-than-stellar performance by Pirates starter Kevin Correia and suspect defense to pull ahead 3-2 by scoring runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. A Martin Prado home run in the seventh stretched the lead to 4-2.

The Pirates staged a rally in the ninth when Jose Tabata scored on a wild pitch, but Pittsburgh could not find the tying run.

The Pirates and Braves face off in the series finale Monday night at 7:10 p.m.

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Pirates Vs. Braves: Tim Hudson Makes Season Debut Against Bucs

The Pittsburgh Pirates (9-11) continued their winning ways when scoring four runs or more on Saturday, and hope to duplicate that success on Sunday when they again take on the Atlanta Braves (13-8). The Pirates are 6-0 this season when scoring at least four times, and are 9-2 when scoring more than one run.

Veteran Tim Hudson will be making his season debut for the Braves after undergoing offseason back surgery. In his career, Hudson is 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 11 starts versus Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will send Kevin Correia to the mound to silence the Braves bats. Through three starts this season, Correia has given up four runs and 11 hits in 18 innings pitched. He is 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Pirates, visit Bucs Dugout. For the opponent's perspective throughout the weekend series, check out Talking Chop, SB Nation's Braves blog. For all your MLB news and notes, visit the new Baseball Nation.

Pirates Vs. Braves: Pittsburgh Evens Series With Atlanta Following 4-2 Win

For the first time in nearly a year, the Pirates' pitchers struck out a combined 14 batters. Nine of them came from starter Erik Bedard, who allowed one run over five innings, as the Pirates topped the Braves, 4-2 on Saturday night at Turner Field.

Pittsburgh led 3-0 after the first two innings. A sacrifice fly from first baseman Garrett Jones in the first scored left fielder Alex Presley. In the second, Presley doubled, scoring catcher Rod Barajas. On the next at bat, right fielder Jose Tabata scored Presley.

The Pirates fared well against the Braves' starter in Randall Delgado, who allowed four runs over four and one-third innings. He also walked three batters.

Bedard was credited with the win -- his first this season.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Pirates, visit Bucs Dugout. For the opponent's perspective throughout the weekend series, check out Talking Chop, SB Nation's Braves blog. For all your MLB news and notes, visit the new Baseball Nation.

Pirates Vs. Braves: Erik Bedard Faces Randall Delgado As Bucs Try To Bounce Back

The Pirates continue their series against the Atlanta Braves Saturday night at 7:10 as Erik Bedard takes on Randall Delgado.

Delgado, 22, is making his fourth start of the season. He has 17 strikeouts in 15.2 innings so far, but nine walks and two home runs allowed have led to a 5.74 ERA. He walks too many batters and wasn’t an elite prospect coming through the system, but it’s hard to crack the Braves’ rotation as a 22-year-old without talent. He relies heavily on his fastball and doesn’t throw it inordinately hard, so this might be a rare decent matchup for the Pirates’ offense.

Bedard is 0-4 despite a strong start to his season.

The Pirates lost 6-1 in the opening game of the series Friday night. They also play the Braves Sunday and Monday before heading to St. Louis.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Braves, there’s Talking Chop.

Pirates Vs. Braves: Bullpen Allows Four Runs In 6-1 Loss

The Pirates wasted a good start by A.J. Burnett, who struck out eight and gave up two runs in six innings in his second appearance as a Buc, in a 6-1 loss the Atlanta Braves Friday.

In the third, Burnett gave up a leadoff walk to Tyler Pastornicky, leading to an RBI single by Martin Prado. The Pirates responded with a Garrett Jones RBI single in the fourth, but Pastornicky knocked in Jason Heyward with a single the following inning.

Tony Watson replaced Burnett in the seventh and gave up a single and two walks. Evan Meek then relieved Watson and promptly gave up a two-run double by Dan Uggla. Chipper Jones then knocked in two more runs with a single.

The Pirates had just six hits on the evening, all singles.

It was the first game this season in which the Pirates gave up more than five runs.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

Pirates Vs. Braves: Lineups, TV Schedule And More

The Pittsburgh Pirates make their first return to Atlanta since their infamous series last July. Here is all the information you need to enjoy tonight's game, including the lineups for both teams.

Location: Turner Field in Atlanta, GA
Time: 7:35 p.m.
Pirates TV: ROOT Sports Pittsburgh
Pirates Radio: 93.7 FM The Fan

Pirates Lineup

Alex Presley 7

Clint Barmes 6

Andrew McCutchen 8

Garrett Jones 9

Neil Walker 4

Pedro Alvarez 5

Casey McGehee 3

Rod Barajas 2

A.J. Burnett 1

Braves Lineup

Michael Bourn 8

Martin Prado 7

Freddie Freeman 3

Brian McCann 2

Dan Uggla 4

Chipper Jones 5

Jason Heyward 9

Tyler Pastornicky 6

Tommy Hanson 1

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Pirates Vs. Braves: Bucs Return To Atlanta, Where 2011 Season Went To Die

The Pirates' 2011 season went down the tubes in Atlanta last season, thanks in part to Jerry Meals' blown call.