Atlanta Braves vs Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score on Aug 21, 2018

Dansby Swanson hit two two-run homers, and right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed only four hits over eight scoreless innings Tuesday as the visiting Atlanta Braves downed the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1.

Chad Sobotka gave up a homer to the Pirates' Gregory Polanco -- his 20th, a shot to right -- in the ninth to spoil the shutout.

Kurt Suzuki added an RBI double for Atlanta, which reached 70 wins and has taken the first two games of the series after getting swept in four games by the Colorado Rockies.

The Pirates had given up one run in each of their previous five games.

Gausman (8-9) struck out five and walked two. He has won three consecutive starts after dropping his first since being acquired by Atlanta.

Pirates starter Ivan Nova (7-8) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, with four strikeouts and no walks. He had won all three of his previous career starts against Atlanta.

In the fifth, Suzuki singled with one out and scored ahead of Swanson, who lined a homer to left for a 2-0 Braves lead.

With reliever Michael Feliz coming in for Pittsburgh, Ozzie Albies singled with one out in the seventh and scored on Suzuki's double to the corner in left. Swanson then struck again, driving his 12th homer of the season to left for a 5-0 lead.

It was Swanson's first career multiple-homer game.

Leading off the ninth, Suzuki was hit in the left elbow and side by a Clay Holmes pitch and left the game. The Braves eventually loaded the bases with two outs and took a 6-0 lead on a Holmes wild pitch.

The Pirates had chances. They got runners to first and third with one out in the second before Adeiny Hechavarria grounded into a double play. In the sixth, they loaded the bases but stranded all three runners when Josh Bell hit into a fielder's choice. And in the seventh, Francisco Cervelli was at third with one out but was left stranded.

--Field Level Media