PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Justin Upton smashed his 24th home run of the season to spoil Andrew McCutchen’s return as the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-3 on Tuesday night.
Upton’s three-run homer off Francisco Liriano (3-10) in the third broke things open early. He added a two-run single off reliever Brandon Cumpton in the fifth as the Braves extended Pittsburgh’s losing streak to a season-high seven games.
Jason Heyward went 2 for 5 with three RBI for the Braves while Evan Gattis hit his 19th homer.
Atlanta has won five straight. McCutchen went 0 for 4 in his first game back after missing two weeks with fractured cartilage in his ribs.
