Pirates 4 - 5 Braves
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Simmons, Braves edge Pirates for fourth straight win

Jun 5, 2013 - 3:39 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Andrelton Simmons knocked in the game-winning run in the 10th inning to lift the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in second installment of a three-game set at Turner Field.

With runners on first and second an one out, Simmons cracked a fly ball to deep right field, scoring Dan Uggla without a throw.

"It feels pretty good," Simmons said. "I went up there and tried to battle...and (got) the game-winning base hit, so that's pretty cool."

Simmons finished the game 3-for-5 with a run scored, B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer and Freddie Freeman doubled and drove in a pair of runs for the Braves, winners in four straight.

Anthony Varvaro (3-0) worked a perfect 10th inning to pick up the win. Starter Mike Minor gave up four runs -- two earned -- on four hits while fanning six.

Gaby Sanchez and Pedro Alvarez each cracked a solo shot and Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI for the Pirates, who have dropped four of their last five games.

"You're going to win some, you're going to lose some," McCutchen said. "We got the short end of the stick tonight. We just have to show up (Wednesday) and try to win."

Mark Melancon (1-1) was charged with the loss after giving up the game-winner. Pirates starter Jeff Locke was tagged for three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Sanchez homered in the second to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.

McCutchen added a two-run double in the third to put Pittsburgh ahead 3-0. Jeff Locke reached on a fielder's choice and Jordy Mercer doubled to put runners on second and third for McCutchen, who laced a Tobago to left field.

The Braves countered with a pair of runs in the home half on Freddie Freeman's two-run double. Simmons walked and Heyward singled before Freeman laced a doubled down the line in left field.

Alvarez crushed a solo homer to left-center field in the fourth to make it 4-2, but B.J. Upton cracked a two-run shot in the sixth to knot things up at 4-4.

The Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, but reliever Tony Watson was able to get Simmons to ground out to first to end the threat.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel stranded a pair of runners in the ninth, and Freeman drove a shot into deep right-center, but it was caught against the wall by McCutchen, sending the game to extras.

Game Notes

The Braves are 21-7 at home this season ... Minor hasn't lost since April 28 ... Simmons extended his hitting streak to 10 games ... Atlanta was just 2- for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base ... The Pirates are 4-2 in extra-inning games this season ... Locke hasn't been charged with a loss since April 7 -- his only defeat of the season.






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