Field Level Media
Jun 12, 2019
Veteran catcher Brian McCann hit two home runs, one of them a tiebreaking, three-run shot that propelled the Atlanta Braves to a 7-5 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
The game was called before the top of the ninth inning after a 1-hour, 47-minute rain delay.
McCann was one of four Atlanta players who went deep in the second inning, but it took his second homer to break a 4-4 tie in the sixth and help the Braves to their fifth straight win. The Pirates absorbed their fifth consecutive loss.
McCann blasted his fifth and sixth home runs of the year, the 15th multi-homer game of his career. The four RBIs give him 997 for his career.
Atlanta trailed 2-0 until breaking loose in the second against Pittsburgh starter Chris Archer (3-6). Josh Donaldson and Nick Markakis hit back-to-back homers, and after Austin Riley struck out, McCann and Ozzie Albies went deep in consecutive at-bats.
The last time Atlanta had four homers in an inning was May 28, 2003, when Rafael Furcal, Mark DeRosa, Gary Sheffield and Javy Lopez homered against Cincinnati's Joey Hamilton.
Archer pitched six innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out eight and allowed a career-high five home runs.
Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz worked five innings and allowed four runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out five.
The winning pitcher was rookie Touki Toussaint (4-0), who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Foltynewicz. Anthony Swarzak got the final out in the eighth inning to earn his fourth save.
The Pirates gave Archer a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Josh Bell's two-run single.
Bell scored a run in the fourth on Colin Moran's double, and the Pirates tied the game 4-4 in the fifth when Starling Marte grounded into a fielder's choice to score Kevin Newman.
After McCann put Atlanta back on top, Pittsburgh drew closer in the eighth inning, scoring a run on Bryan Reynolds' triple into the right field corner.
--Field Level Media