Atlanta Braves’ B.J. Upton, right, is greeted by third base coach Brian Snitker after hitting a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Pittsburgh.PITTSBURGH – Pinch-hitter Evan Gattis connected for a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Thursday night.
Atlanta brothers B.J. and Justin Upton homered in the same game for the second time this season as the Braves continued their torrid play. Atlanta improved to a major league-best 13-2 after Gattis hit a sinker from Jared Hughes (1-1) into the left-field bleachers for the first pinch-hit homer of his career.
Anthony Varvaro (1-0) won in relief of starter Julio Teheran. Craig Kimbrel worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
Russell Martin and Pedro Alvarez each hit their first homer of the year, but the Pirates couldn’t climb above .500. Travis Snider added two doubles and Garrett Jones drove in two runs.
The Uptons homered in the ninth inning of a 6-5 comeback win over the Cubs on April 6. This time, they didn’t wait so long to get started. B.J. Upton led off the game with a shot to left and Justin added a solo drive of his own in the fifth for his ninth of the season, most in the majors.