Braves 2 - 3 Pirates
Final/10
  for this game

Mercer, Pirates down Braves in 10th

Jun 27, 2015 - 5:19 AM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jordy Mercer drove in the decisive run with an RBI double during the 10th inning to power the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game set.

Pedro Alvarez finished with two hits and two RBI and Mercer doubled twice among his three hits for the Pirates, who ended a two-game skid.

"We battled," Mercer said. "I was able to get some good wood on it."

Mark Melancon (1-1) earned the win after tossing a scoreless top of the 10th, while Pirates starter Francisco Liriano surrendered two runs and six hits over seven frames.

Juan Uribe homered and Ryan Lavarnway drove in a run for the Braves, who dropped their fourth straight game.

Jason Grilli (2-3) took the mound for the Braves in the 10th and Andrew McCutchen hit his first pitch off the warning track and over the wall in left for a ground-rule double. After Starling Marte was intentionally walked and Alvarez struck out, Mercer clobbered a fastball off the right-field wall to score the game-winning run.

"I tried to make some pitches and just didn't," Grilli said.

Atlanta took an early lead in the second. Chris Johnson and Uribe each singled to place runners on the corners to begin the inning and Jonny Gomes walked two batters later to load the bases. Liriano proceeded to walk Lavarnway on four pitches to usher in the game's first run.

The Pirates went ahead with two runs in the fifth. Neil Walker walked and moved to second on a balk and Atlanta starter Williams Perez's outing ended after hitting McCutchen with a pitch. Marte singled off Luis Avilan to load the bases before Alvarez brought in two runs with a single to center.

Uribe responded for the Braves by stroking a solo shot to center in the sixth for a 2-2 game.

Pirates pinch-hitter Jung Ho Kang worked a one-out walk in the ninth and moved to second on an error after Josh Harrison lined out, but was tagged after taking too far of a step toward home after Walker hit a grounder to Uribe, who applied the inning-ending tag.

Game Notes

The Pirates lead the season series 3-1 ... Perez gave up two runs on four hits over 4 2/3 frames and left the game with a left foot contusion ... Prior to the game, the Pirates placed pitcher Rob Scahill on the 15-day disabled list, selected the contract of pitcher Deolis Guerra from Triple-A Indianapolis, transferred outfielder Andrew Lambo to the 60-day disabled list and signed pitcher Shane Kemp, a 2015 draft choice.






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