Braves halt Pirates’ power surge as Dubón extends hitting streak
Mauricio Dubón’s three-game home run streak and a strong bullpen performance secure a 6-3 victory over Pittsburgh, ending the visitors’ 11-game homer run.
The Atlanta Braves maintained their strong home record on Friday night, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 to open their latest home series. The victory marks the Braves’ ninth win in 10 home openers this season, reinforcing their effectiveness in front of their home crowd. Mauricio Dubón was instrumental in the win, hitting a home run for the third consecutive game, a feat not seen in his eight-year career.
Dubón finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. His two-run, 405-foot home run in the third inning tied the game at 3-3, before a double in the fifth inning gave Atlanta a 4-3 lead. He later added to his tally by scoring on an RBI double from Austin Riley. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson also contributed significantly, with both players recording two hits for the Braves.
Pittsburgh’s offensive momentum was checked by the Atlanta bullpen after starting pitcher Mitch Keller struggled. Keller, who took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, has now conceded 13 runs across his last two starts. The Pirates’ 11-game home run streak came to an end with this defeat, and Nick Gonzalez and Henry Davis were the only other Pirates to record RBIs.
Atlanta’s pitching staff effectively neutralised the Pirates’ offence, which ranks as the fourth-highest scoring in Major League Baseball. Martín Pérez (4-3) pitched five innings and allowed three runs before handing over to the relief corps. The bullpen blanked Pittsburgh in the final four innings, with Raisel Iglesias securing his 12th save and lowering his ERA to 0.92 after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
The game featured a notable moment for Marcell Ozuna, who played for the Braves from 2020 to 2025. Ozuna went 2 for 4 with an RBI and received a strong ovation from the home crowd before his first at-bat since departing Atlanta. Looking ahead, Braves right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider (3-1, 3.77 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday against Pirates right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (5-2, 2.77).
