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Pittsburgh Pirates' Nick Gonzales (39) hits a two-run single off Atlanta Braves beginning pitcher Ray Kerr within the first inning of Friday's sport in Pittsburgh. AP photograph
PITTSBURGH — Nick Gonzales drove in a career-high 4 runs and Bailey Falter pitched a shutout eighth inning because the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5 on Friday evening.
Falter (Three-2) had his 20-inning scoreless streak in three begins halted within the eighth when Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a three-run dwelling run to assist the Braves keep away from their first shutout of the season. The 24-year-old lefty allowed six hits, struck out 4 and walked in his first win since April 23.
“Simply rolling as a lot as attainable.” Falter mentioned. “Issues aren't actually going to vary, I simply need to get these guys out (in) three pitches or much less, first-ball strikes, no walks and I need to get (our) guys again within the dugout as quickly as attainable as shortly as attainable. . Once we try this, good issues like tonight are likely to occur.”
Falter did that for a lot of the sport.
“He did a very good job” Pittsburgh supervisor Derek Shelton mentioned. “It's a very good line-up and so they can rating shortly, as we noticed within the final eight. He did a very good job transferring his fastball each methods.”
Gonzales opened the scoring by lining a two-out, two-run single to heart subject within the first inning. He additionally drove in two runs with a double within the sixth that prolonged the Pirates' result in 10-Zero.
Gonzales has 13 RBIs in 14 video games since being known as up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Could 10. That's as many runs because the second baseman drove in as a rookie final season in 35 video games.
Gonzales, 24, mentioned he’s now extra comfy within the main leagues.
“Once you first come, you get your toes moist and there's a number of new issues that you just don't actually know, however on the finish of the day it's baseball and also you're enjoying the identical sport.” Gonzales mentioned. “It's clearly the best degree, so for me it was an essential factor to come back again. I received my toes moist and examined it out, seeing what I wanted to regulate to and work on. These changes that I could make now, I'm in a position to make.”
Edward Olivares had three of the Pirates' 14 hits, and Andrew McCutchen, Connor Joe and Gonzales every had two.
Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run double within the third inning to make it 5-Zero, and Jared Triolo's two-run homer to left-center prolonged the result in 7-Zero. Olivares had RBI singles within the third and sixth innings.
Ray Kerr (1-1) gave up 5 runs and 7 hits over 4 innings in his first main league begin in 33 profession appearances. the left-hander was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
“If I begin over, you'll see one other Ray Kerr,” he mentioned. “I'm higher than this.”
The Pirates bounced again from back-to-back losses to San Francisco wherein they blew a five-point lead on Tuesday and a four-point lead on Wednesday. The Braves had gained three of their earlier 4 video games, permitting simply six runs.
Acuna's three-run homer was his fourth of the season in 47 video games. He turned 41 final 12 months when he was the NL MVP.
Travis d'Arnaud added a two-run double later within the eighth to place the Braves up 11-5. Acuna, d'Arnaud and Michael Harris II every had two hits.
TRANSACTIONS
Braves: Signed INF Joey Wendle to a one-year contract and optioned INF Luke Williams to Gwinnett. Wendle hit .222 with one RBI in 18 video games with the New York Mets earlier than being launched on Could 20. … RHP Darius Vines was optioned to Gwinnett after pitching the ultimate 4 innings instead of Kerr. A corresponding roster transfer will likely be made on Saturday.
INSTRUCTOR'S ROOM
Braves: RHP AJ Smith-Shawyer (strained left indirect) was positioned on the 15-day injured listing a day after making his season debut and pitching four 1/Three scoreless innings towards the Chicago Cubs. The transfer opened up a roster spot for Kerr. … 3B Austin Riley (left intercostal pressure) missed his 11th straight sport and certain gained't play till at the least Monday.
Pirates: Grandal (strained proper groin) returned to the lineup after lacking two video games.
IT FOLLOWS
Braves RHP Reynaldo Lopez (2-1, 1.54 ERA) will face RHP Mitch Keller (5-Three, Three.84 ERA) on Saturday. Lopez's solely win towards the Pirates got here on September 24, 2016, when he helped Washington win the NL East title. Keller is Zero-Three with a 9.97 ERA towards the Braves in 5 profession begins.