PITTSBURGH — The Atlanta Braves followed a thrilling victory with an agonizing defeat.
It’s been a bit of habit so far this season, which offers a little bit in the way of explanation for why they’ve yet to hit .500 nearly a fourth of the way into their 162-game schedule.
Joey Bart’s fielder’s choice on a hard ground ball with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday lifted Pittsburgh over Atlanta, 4-3, as the Pirates won two of three games in the weekend series at PNC Park.
Bart, a 28-year-old Atlanta-area native who played college baseball at Georgia Tech, hit a sharp grounder with the infield drawn in that went off shortstop Nick Allen’s glove and scored Adam Frazier. It was the second walk-off RBI of Bart’s MLB career.
Pittsburgh reliever Dennis Santana (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win. The Pirates’ winning rally came against Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias (2-3).