Pittsburgh Pirates vs Atlanta Braves Box Score on May 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 22, 2017

ATLANTA -- A career-best 5-for-5 performance from Ender Inciarte sparked a 13-hit attack and helped the Atlanta Braves defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Monday at soggy Sun Trust Park.

Inciarte had five singles, one better than his previous high mark, drove in one run and scored one run as Atlanta won for the sixth time in its last eight games. Inciarte raised his batting average 21 points to .279.

Brandon Phillips, Matt Adams and Tyler Flowers added two hits apiece for Atlanta, which beat Pittsburgh the first time. The Pirates swept a three-game series with Atlanta in April.

Mike Foltynewicz (3-4) earned his third consecutive win. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits and two walks. He struck out five and beat the Pirates for the first time in four career starts.

Jason Motte, Jose Ramirez, Arodys Vizcaino and Jim Johnson each pitched one inning of hitless relief. Johnson earned his ninth save.

Losing pitcher Gerrit Cole (2-5) lasted only 4 2/3 innings, the first time he failed to pitch five innings in 10 starts. He allowed five runs on 10 hits and a walk with two strikeouts. It was his first career loss to Atlanta in six starts.

The Pirates scored an unearned run in the third inning to go ahead 1-0. Jordy Mercer singled and was sacrificed to second. Mercer scored on a throwing error by Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson.

The Braves answered with two runs in the bottom half of the third. Swanson led off with a double and scored on a single by Inciarte, who was thrown out at second trying to take an extra base. Phillips followed with a solo home run, his third.

Atlanta tacked on three runs in the fifth and went ahead 5-1. Inciarte singled and took third on a hit by Phillips. Inciarte scored when Josh Harrison could not field a sharp grounder off the bat of Nick Markakis. After a double play left Phillips at third, Adams hit his second homer, his first since being acquired by the Braves, on a long blast to right field.

Pittsburgh third baseman David Freese and manager Clint Hurdle were ejected in the fourth inning by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi. Freese was arguing from the dugout about being called out on strikes, and Hurdle was tossed after coming on the field to protect his player.

NOTES: Pittsburgh SS Jordy Mercer singled in the first inning and has now hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games against the Braves. But Mercer left the game in the eighth inning with discomfort after taking a grounder off his right hand and is listed as day-to-day. ... Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said 3B Adonis Garcia removed the boot from his left leg and hit in the cage. Garcia (Achilles tendinitis) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list when eligible on May 26. ... Atlanta will start RHP R.A. Dickey on three-days rest on Tuesday. In eight career starts on three days' rest, Dickey is 3-4 with a 6.20 ERA. Pittsburgh will start RHP Tyler Glasnow, who is 19 years younger than the 42-year-old Dickey. ... 1B James Loney asked for and received his release after the Braves traded for 1B Matt Adams. Loney had signed with Triple-A Gwinnett but saw his chances in Atlanta diminish when Atlanta acquired Adams.