Brutal Road Trip Continues As Braves Complete Four Game Sweep

A five run fifth inning rally by Atlanta propelled the Braves to complete the four game sweep of the Bucs Thursday in a 6-5 decision.

Joe Musgrove (4-7) was rolling going into the fifth, but he was chased without getting an out in said frame. He started the inning walking Dansby Swanson before Freddie Freeman triple him home and then scored on a Josh Donaldson base hit.

A Nick Markakis base hit prompted a mound visit, and he was removed after Ozzie Albies ripped an 0-2 fastball up in the zone for a double.

Geoff Hartlieb came on in relief, and while he got all three batters he faced that inning out, a pair of ground outs allowed Albies to score the final Braves run of the afternoon.

Musgrove finished with six earned runs allowed in 4+ innings with nine hits, two walks, a (confrontation free) hit batter and three strikeouts on his ledger.

The Pirates went into the fifth with a 2-1 advantage. After Bryan Reynolds and Freeman traded RBI singles in the third, the Bucs were gifted a run in the fourth by some shoddy outfield defense. Left fielder Matt Joyce overran a Colin Moran pop fly, and he came home to score when center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. whiffed while diving at Elias Diaz’s bloop.

Those were the only runs Julio Teheran (5-2) allowed in his six innings pitched.

The Pirates staged a pair of late rallies to try to get back in it. In the seventh, they strung together four consecutive hits, with Corey Dickerson and Reynolds picking up RBI doubles. Moran had a chance to play hero with the bases juiced, but he fanned on a 2-2 Anthony Swarzak slider to end the inning.

In the ninth, Reynolds lined a two out double, took third on defensive indifference and scored on a Starling Marte infield single to bring the Bucs back to within one. Josh Bell gave the last pitch a ride to the left field warning track, but it didn’t have enough juice.

Luke Jackson picked up his 10th save of the season.

Reynolds finished the day 3-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a walk. Adam Fraizer went 2-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored.

The Pirates fall to 0-7 on the road trip and 30-38 overall.

On Deck

The Pirates are off to Miami to conclude the trip with a three game set against the fish. Steven Brault (2-1, 5.05) will put his hot streak on the line against Trevor Richards (3-6, 3.31). First pitch is at 7:10 p.m..

NUMB3RS

1. The Pirates entered this series 14-1 when Marte drove in a run. He drove in at least one every game in Atlanta, all in losing efforts.

2. Thursday was Reynolds’ first three hit game since Apr. 21 against the Giants.

3. This is the first game where a Pirate pitcher did not allow a home run since game one of the double-header against the Reds on May 27.