Braves 2, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH -- Alex Wood pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings and the Atlanta Braves avoided a sweep with a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Pittsburgh lost for the first time at home against a team from the National League East this season. The Pirates are now 11-1 in such games.
Wood (5-5) scattered five hits and allowed only one runner to advance past second base. He walked none and struck out eight.
Wood was removed after he allowed a double to second baseman Neil Walker with one out. Right-hander Jim Johnson entered and stranded Walker to keep Wood's line intact.
Pittsburgh left-hander Jeff Locke allowed one run and five hits in five innings. Locke (4-4) walked three and struck out five.
Right-hander Jason Grilli gave up a run in the ninth but still earned his 21st save.
The Pirates scored their first run of the game when Grilli walked catcher Francisco Cervelli with two outs and shortstop Jordy Mercer flew to left field. Left fielder Eury Perez and center fielder Cameron Maybin collided and the ball dropped for a RBI double.
Second baseman Jace Peterson extended Atlanta's lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. It was his third home run of the season.
Pittsburgh failed to score in the seventh after center fielder Andrew McCutchen and left fielder Starling Marte led off with singles. They moved to second and third on Cervelli's bunt.
Mercer struck out looking and first baseman Sean Rodriguez popped out to end the inning.
NOTES: Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen started Sunday after he was removed from Saturday's game when he was hit by a pitch on the elbow. ... Pittsburgh RF Jose Tabata and RHP Chris Volstad were designated for assignment while OF Gorkys Hernandez and INF Steve Lombardozzi were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Atlanta recalled RHP Ryan Kelly from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned RHP Sugar Ray Marimon to the minors.