Mike Yastrzemski hit his first grand slam as a member of the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night at PNC Park, capping a six-run third inning that propelled the Braves to a 10-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Yastrzemski, acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the offseason, drove a 2-0 sinker from Pirates starter Mitch Keller over the left-center field wall for his 14th home run of the season. The slam came one pitch after a controversial check-swing call that went against Pittsburgh third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
“I got a fastball to hit and didn’t miss it,” Yastrzemski said. “That’s the dream right there.”
The Braves built a 10-1 lead through five innings, with Matt Olson adding a two-run homer in the fourth and Ozzie Albies driving in two with a double in the fifth.
Starting pitcher Spencer Strider (8-5) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out nine. The bullpen gave up three runs in the late innings, but the lead was never in doubt.
The win evens the three-game series at one game apiece heading into Friday’s finale in Pittsburgh. The Braves improved to 54-40 on the season and remained a half-game behind Philadelphia for first place in the NL East.
Atlanta returns home Friday to begin a six-game homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals. Chris Sale (9-3, 2.20 ERA) will start the series opener at 7:15 p.m. at Truist Park.