Mike Yastrzemski hits grand slam in Braves’ 10-5 win over Pirates

Mike Yastrzemski’s game-sealing grand slam in the ninth inning, along with Matt Olson’s first-inning home run, led the Atlanta Braves to a 10-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

In a tight game with the Braves leading 6-5, Yastrzemski stepped up and hit a grand slam off Dennis Santana, marking his third career slam. Olson also made his mark with a solo home run in the first inning, his 25th of the season, while tying the franchise record for consecutive games played at 740, matching Dale Murphy’s record from 1982-86.

Rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis added to the Braves’ lead with his first career home run, a two-run shot off Cam Sanders in the fourth inning. Jarvis had a standout performance with three hits in the game.

The Pirates fought back with Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez hitting back-to-back homers in the third inning. Jake Mangum’s four hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the fourth, kept the Pirates in the game. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Braves’ offensive firepower.

Both starting pitchers had their struggles, with Atlanta’s Bryce Elder allowing four runs in four innings, and Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller giving up three runs in three innings. Dylan Dodd earned the win for the Braves after pitching a perfect fifth inning.

The game was briefly delayed by rain for 35 minutes at the end of the fifth inning, but it didn’t dampen the excitement for either team.

Looking ahead, the Braves will face the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series, with left-handed pitcher Chris Sale set to start. The Pirates will take on the Milwaukee Brewers, with Braxton Ashcraft on the mound against rookie Brandon Sproat.

Overall, it was an action-packed game with standout performances from key players on both teams, showcasing the competitive spirit of Major League Baseball.

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