Joey Bart’s 8th‑Inning Blast Seals Braves Victory

Braves Edge Pirates 3‑0

The NL East‑leading Atlanta Braves used a two‑run homer from Joey Bart to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3‑0 on Wednesday. Bart, who was traded from Pittsburgh on June 18, delivered a 422‑foot drive to left‑center off Dennis Santana (2‑4) with two outs in the eighth. Drake Baldwin added an RBI single in the ninth to close out the scoring for Atlanta.

Pittsburgh’s starter Jared Jones had been dominant, pitching six perfect innings before manager lifted him after 77 pitches. Jones struck out eight batters, using 53 strikes, and lowered his ERA from 5.28 to 4.37. In the third inning, a long drive by Bart toward left field was nabbed at the wall by Bryan Reynolds, keeping the game scoreless.

Key Offensive Spark

Atlanta’s offense clicked at the right moment, beginning with a double from Mike Yastrzemski. That extra base set up Bart’s pivotal home run, putting the Braves ahead for good. The Braves added another run in the ninth when Baldwin singled home a runner, extending the lead to three runs.

The Pirates left runners on base in each of the first four innings, failing to capitalize on scoring chances. In the third, after Reynolds stole second on a two‑out single, Grant Holmes forced Jared Triolo to ground out at third, ending the threat.

Jones’s Strong Return After Injury

Jones, 24, has not exceeded 81 pitches in any of his eight starts since returning May 20 following a full season’s absence. The missed campaign was due to an ulnar collateral ligament internal brace surgery performed on May 21, 2025. His recent outing contributed to a solid ERA improvement, showcasing his regained stamina.

Mason Montgomery relieved Jones in the seventh, retiring Michael Harris II on a grounder and later striking out Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin. Dylan Dodd earned the win with a perfect seventh inning, and Raisel Iglesias recorded his 18th save by striking out two in the ninth.

Braves Bullpen and Starter Performance

Grant Holmes logged five innings for Atlanta, allowing three hits while striking out three and walking one. The Braves bullpen kept the Pirates off the board after the middle innings, with Dodd and Iglesias delivering clean frames. Their defensive play also prevented Pittsburgh from executing additional rallies.

Looking Ahead to Thursday

The series continues Thursday with RHP Mitch Keller (6‑6, 5.02 ERA) set to face Braves RHP Bryce Elder (5‑6, 4.01 ERA). Fans can expect another tightly contested matchup as both teams look to improve their win‑loss records. The outcome may influence the NL East standings as the season progresses.