ATLANTA — Kevin Pillar didn't start Saturday for the Atlanta Braves, but he sure helped them finish.
Pillar hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth inning to rally the Braves to a 5-4 win over the red-hot Baltimore Orioles, who lost for just the fifth time in 21 games. Atlanta bounced back from a 9-4 loss Friday to open the three-game interleague series at Truist Park.
Pillar's shot came off Danny Coulombe (1-1) and brought in Austin Riley, who led off the bottom of the eighth with a single.
The 34-year-old Pillar is in his first season with the Braves but his 11th in the majors, having played for the Toronto Blue Jays for his first six-plus seasons before spending time with the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. The home run was the 100th of his MLB career and his second as a pinch hitter.
"He's always ready," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He can sense a situation and get himself ready. He's been awesome to have."
A.J. Minter (1-3) was the winning pitcher after working a perfect eighth, and Raisel Iglesias got the save in his first appearance of the season. Iglesias, who was projected to be Atlanta's closer but missed the first 32 games of the schedule with a strained right shoulder that sidelined him near the end of spring training, struck out two batters in a perfect ninth.
"His stuff is unbelievable," said Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider, who struck out 10 batters in five innings, giving up two runs. "He is a legit competitor. We are a much better team with him."
And Strider, too, apparently: The Braves are 7-0 in his starts this season. He struck out at least eight hitters for the 11th straight game, the longest current streak in the majors.
Adam Frazier had three RBIs for the Orioles, who did not use their normal setup man, Yennier Can, in the eighth inning. Can has been almost unhittable this season — batters are 2-for-42 against him — but he pitched two innings Thursday, and Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde wanted to give him some rest.
"Unfortunately, that's just part of the game," Hyde said. "Other guys have to pitch in those spots, and Danny's done a great job for us this year. Just one bad pitch."
Braves shortstop Vaughn Grissom's sixth error in 18 games this season led to a costly run in the sixth inning. His failure to secure a ground ball put runners on first and third with the score 3-3, and a Frazier fielder's choice put the Orioles ahead.
Ryan Mountcastle and Anthony Santander each had two hits and scored twice for the Orioles, with both of Santander's hits going for doubles.
Baltimore's Kyle Bradish limited the Braves to three runs over five innings while striking out four batters.
Marcell Ozuna crushed a leadoff home run to right field in the third inning to open the scoring. Ozuna had been off to a slow start this season, hitting .085 in April, but he already has four home runs May.
Eddie Rosario's RBI single in the fourth pulled Atlanta even at 2-2, and Ronald Acuña Jr.'s RBI single in the fifth put them ahead. Acuña has reached base in 25 straight games.
Braves center fielder Michael Harris II returned after missing two games with a jammed knee, playing with a large brace under his uniform.
In other injury news, an MRI showed no structural damage on Atlanta right-hander Kyle Wright's strained shoulder. He was placed on the injured list this week after exiting Wednesday's start against the Miami Marlins in the third inning, and there is still no timetable for his return.
Atlanta catcher Travis d'Arnaud (concussion) played in his second rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnet. He went 0-for-3 with a walk as a designated hitter.
Sunday's series finale is set for an 11:30 a.m. start due to being shown on NBC and its Peacock streaming service. Both scheduled starters are right-handers, with the Orioles giving the ball to Tyler Wells (2-1, 3.34 ERA) and the Braves countering with Bryce Elder (3-0, 1.75 ERA).