Pittsburgh Pirates' Adam Frazier scores the winning run on a single by Joey Bart off Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias during the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH — Joey Bart’s fielder’s choice on a hard ground ball in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Sunday to win two in a three-game series.

Bart hit a sharp grounder with the infield drawn in that hit off shortstop Nick Allen’s glove and scored Adam Frazier. It was Bart’s second career walk-off RBI.

The Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton before the series and replaced him with bench coach Don Kelly. Pittsburgh had lost seven games in a row and 10 of 11 before the change.

The Braves (19-21) failed to reach .500 for the first time this season after winning five of their previous seven games.

Pinch-hitter Sean Murphy pulled the Braves into a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning when he lined a three-run double to left-center with two out.

Dennis Santana (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win. The Pirates’ winning rally came against Raisel Iglesias (2-3).

Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski pitched 5ª scoreless innings in the longest outing of his three-year career. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked one.

Braves starter Chris Sale gave up three runs — two earned — in 5ª innings.

Key moment

Back-to-back singles by pinch-hitter Frazier and Ke’Bryan Hayes put runners on first and third to start the ninth. Hayes advanced on Bryan Reynolds’ slow roller to second and Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Bart.

Key stat

The Pirates have failed to score more than four runs in 17 consecutive games, breaking the franchise record set in 1908.

Saturday’s game

Matt Olson homered in the third inning and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 11th inning as the Braves beat the Pirates 3-2 on Saturday.

Chase Shugart (1-3) got Murphy to ground to short for the second out in the 11th with Olson on third. He intentionally walked Michael Harris II to bring up Eli White. Shugart nearly hit White in the head with a pitch that went to the backstop, allowing Olson to score.

Hayes started the 10th by moving automatic runner Henry Davis to third on a sacrifice bunt. Davis was thrown out at home after Matt Gorski grounded to third. Scott Blewett (2-0) then got Alexander Canario to fly out.

Bart hit his fourth single of the game with one out in the eighth for the Pirates. Ji Hwan Bae entered as the pinch runner, stole second, advanced on a groundout and scored to tie it 2-all when Gorski sent a dribbler down the line to third.

Kelly was tossed in the sixth inning after plate umpire Clint Vondrak called two balls to start Olson’s at bat.

Up next

The Pirates begin a three-game series in New York tonight against the Mets with RHP Paul Skenes (3-4, 2.77) facing LHP David Peterson (2-2, 3.05).