PITTSBURGH 4 – ATLANTA 2

Win: E. Bedard (1-4)
L: R. Delgado (2-2)
S: J. Hanrahan (4)
ALVAREZ BAT COMING ALIVE

Pedro Alvarez (.176 - 4 HR – 7 RBI) bat is showing signs of coming alive and Alvarez was among the top storylines out of tonight’s Pirates (9-11) 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves (13-8).
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI in the victory and is now 7-21 (.333) with 2 home runs, 5 RBI’s and 3 doubles in his last seven games.
Alvarez had an RBI double in the 5th inning, taking a Livan Hernandez pitch deep to right over Jason Heyward’s head, scoring Neil Walker.
In the third inning, Alvarez doubled to left with an opposite field hit, moving Neil Walker to third base with one out.
BEDARD EARNS 1ST WIN
Erik Bedard (1-4, 2.48 ERA) gave up only one run in five innings, earning his first win of the season. The left-hander struck out nine while giving up five hits and two walks. He has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts.
“The nine strikeouts were big and he needed every one of them. It was a blue-collar effort from Erik, ” manager Clint Hurdle said. Bedard left the game after 96 pitches, throwing 62 strikes. 100 pitches is around the max for Bedard coming off threw shoulder surgeries.
PRESLEY EXTENDS HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES
Alex Presley (.303) continues to shine, providing a spark at the top of the lineup and had two hits in the victory to extend his career-best hitting streak to 12 games. Presley scored two runs and drove in a run with a double, scoring Rod Barajas in the second inning.
Presley is hitting .303 on the season.
TIDBITS
Neil Walker (.250) went 2-3 with a run scored and walk, collecting his first extra base hit of the season.
— The Pirates had four doubles in the win: Ales Presley; Pedro Alvarez 2 ; Neil Walker; Andrew McCutchen;
— The Pirates are 6-0 when scoring 4+runs
PLAYER NOTES (*Starters*)
Alex Presley (.303) 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 double, 2 runs scored, 1 SO
Jose Tabata (.200) 1-5, 1 RBI
Andrew McCutchen (.321) 1-4, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Garrett Jones (.273) 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 SO
Neil Walker (.250) 2-3, double, 1 run, 1 walk
Pedro Alvarez (.176) 2-4, 2 doubles, RBI
Clint Barmes (.156) 0-4, 2 strikeouts
Rod Barajas (.130) 1-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks