Spencer Horwitz hit a pair of home runs to help the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates roll to a 9-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in the opener of their three-game series on Friday.
Pittsburgh (70-90) has won three of four against Atlanta (75-85) this season. The Pirates, winners of five of their last six games, are trying to win their first season series against the Braves since 2017.
Horwitz hit a solo homer off reliever Joel Payamps in the seventh inning and added a three-run homer off Pierce Johnson in the ninth, giving him 11 for the season.
Horwitz was 3-for-3 with two walks and four RBIs to pace Pittsburgh's 14-hit attack. Horwitz is 9-for-11 with five home runs in his career against the Braves.
Pittsburgh's Tommy Pham had a two-run homer, his 10th, to spark a four-run second inning and