Pirates 4 - 5 Braves
Final
  for this game

Pirates hope to claim series victory in Atlanta

Jun 6, 2015 - 1:33 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Pittsburgh Pirates look to keep rolling when they shoot for a series win over the Atlanta Braves Saturday at Turner Field.

The Pirates have won four in a row and took Friday's series opener by a 10-8 score, as Neil Walker hit a three-run homer and Starling Marte added a two-run shot and finished with three RBI. Francisco Cervelli ended with four hits and two RBI for the Pirates, who have won 12 of their last 14 games and are 6-2 on a 10-game road trip.

Charlie Morton has won all three of his starts this season and gave up four runs -- three earned -- in five innings. Mark Melancon picked up his 17th save in the ninth inning.

"Couple double plays at the right time and a couple good plays behind me in the outfield," said Morton. "I wasn't executing. I had no feel, but I got through it."

Jeff Locke gets the call for Pittsburgh Saturday and he is 3-3 with a 5.34 earned run average in 10 starts. Locke is 1-3 in his last three decisions and was roughed up in Sunday's 7-1 loss at San Diego, charged with seven runs (6 earned) and eight hits in four innings.

Locke has made four career starts against the Braves and is 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA.

The Braves have lost three in a row and seven of their last 11 games. Luis Avilan was dealt the loss in relief for allowing Marte's home run in the sixth inning and starter Williams Perez gave up four runs in five innings of work.

"It was just location," said Avilan. "This is the big leagues, they don't miss mistakes."

Cameron Maybin had three hits and both Andrelton Simmons and Juan Uribe added two RBI for Atlanta.

Taking the ball for the Braves Saturday is Julio Teheran, who is 4-2 with a 4.87 earned run average in 11 starts. Teheran is winless (0-1) in his last two appearances and did not factor in the outcome of a 7-5 win at San Francisco on Sunday, as he yielded three runs in six innings.

Teheran allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-0 loss at Los Angeles on May 26. He is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career meetings (3 starts) with the Pirates.

The Braves are 4-2 in his last six starts.

Pittsburgh won four of seven matchups with Atlanta last season and will host the Braves for three games later this month.






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