The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-2, avoiding a series sweep. Oneil Cruz and Rowdy Tellez each hit two-run home runs, with Cruz's homer traveling 452 feet at 117.3 mph. Bailey Falter pitched five innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five. Bryan Reynolds extended his hit streak to 25 games with a triple in the ninth inning, but the streak ended as he did not get another hit. The Pirates improved their record to 40-43 and finished their road trip with a 3-3 record. Earlier in the game, the Pirates tied it 1-1 on Olivares' sac fly following a Michael Taylor leadoff single, a McCutchen walk, a Reynolds groundout, and a Connor Joe walk.
Oneil Cruz crushed two-run homer in win over ATL https://t.co/gwEoo8RYA9
Oneil Cruz and Rowdy Tellez homer as the @Pirates take the series finale. https://t.co/2eXlbsxCZQ
Final score: Pirates -- 4 Braves -- 2 Cruz and Rowdy both go yard. Falter gives a good start. Bucs go 3-3 on the road trip.
FINAL: Pirates 4, Braves 2 Sweep avoided thanks to loud 2-run HRs from Cruz, Tellez Oneil 117.3 mph, 452’ … 2 H Rowdy 108.9 mph, 421’ Falter: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K Bryan Reynolds’ 25-game hit streak snapped PIT now 40-43
4-1 Pirates as we start the ninth inning. 8-9-1 due up. Bucs need at least one base runner to give Reynolds a shot to extend his hit streak.
Oneil Cruz hit this ball 117.3 MPH off the bat. 🤯 https://t.co/6ut7zRYLD0
With two out and one on in the fifth, Schwellenbach threw a first-pitch cutter thigh-high and in to Oneil Cruz, and he destroyed it -- 452 feet, 117.3 off the bat. One walk later, Rowdy Tellez added another 2-run homer. And just like that, #Braves trail Pirates 4-1 through 4 1/2
And a big BOOM from Cruz: First-pitch cutter, blasted to RCF, 452 feet at 117.3 mph. Oh my. It's 2-1 Pirates. What a swing. https://t.co/a11EbCVMuT
Oneil Cruz goes 452 for the lead! Paul Skenes knew it was gone immediately https://t.co/BHVRKzpgjN
Boom. Oneil Cruz puts the Pirates in the lead with a bomb to right field. First pitch swinging. That one got out in a hurry. Bucs are now ahead 2-1.
#Braves have potential winning run on base after Riley one-out walk against Chapman
Pirates had two out in the ninth when Reynolds triples off the RF wall, past Duvall's glove. He extended hit streak to 25 games with that, but Iglesias and #Braves got out without damage on a 1-3 groundout. #Braves have Olson, Riley, d'Arnaud due up in 9th, Aroldis Chapman
Bryan Freakin' Reynolds. Mr. June keeps his hit streak alive, hitting a triple off the right field wall. That makes it 25 straight games. Go-ahead run is on third base. Cruz was intentionally walked. Olivares comes to the plate with a chance to give the Bucs their first lead.
Pirates tied it, 1-1, on Olivares sac fly in the fifth, after a Michael Taylor leadoff single, McCutchen walk, a Reynolds groundout that advanced the runners and a Connor Joe walk. Fried got out without further damage by striking out Nick Gonzales with 2 on to end the inning.