Game Log: July 9, 2026 vs Braves
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
| PIT | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
The Pirates lost the series finale 10-5 to the Braves and are back at .500, 47-47. They won the opener big and then dropped the last two, so Atlanta takes the series two games to one.
Matt Olson got the Braves going with a solo homer in the first, his 25th of the year. Atlanta built it to 3-0 by the third on an Ozzie Albies double and a Mauricio Dubón single. The Pirates answered in the bottom of the third with back-to-back homers from Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez to make it 3-2.
Atlanta stretched it back out in the fourth. Jim Jarvis hit the first home run of his career, a two-run shot, and Drake Baldwin drove in another to put the Braves up 6-2. Jake Mangum got two of those back in the bottom half with a home run that scored Jared Triolo, and it was 6-4.
Mangum brought them within a run in the sixth with an RBI double that scored Nick Gonzales, making it 6-5. They could not get any closer. They left the tying run at third with two outs in the sixth when Brandon Lowe popped out, and Ryan O’Hearn grounded into a double play to end a rally in the seventh. The middle of the bullpen kept it a one-run game, with Hunter Stratton, Ramírez, and Soto combining for scoreless work.
In the ninth, Santana came on with the Pirates down a run. He walked Olson, allowed a single to Baldwin, and intentionally walked Dominic Smith after a sacrifice by Dubon. He would get the second out with a strikeout of Riley. Then with two outs Mike Yastrzemski hit a grand slam to make it 10-5. The Pirates did not answer in the bottom half.
Mangum was the bright spot with four hits, a home run, and three RBI, and the middle relievers did their part to keep it close. The Pirates just could not get the big hit while it was still a one-run game, and the ninth turned a tight loss into a lopsided final. They are at .500 again, which is a familiar place to be. On to the next one.
Mangum carried the offense Four hits, a home run, and three RBI. He was the best thing the Pirates had going all afternoon.
The ninth got away It was a 6-5 game before Santana loaded the bases and Mike Yastrzemski cleared them with a grand slam to make it 10-5.
Chances left on the table The tying run was at third with two outs in the sixth, and O'Hearn grounded into a double play to kill a rally in the seventh. They could not get the hit they needed while it was close.