(File Photo: Source for Photo: Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider delivers to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

ATLANTA (AP) — Dominic Smith hit a two-run homer, Spencer Strider allowed three runs in five innings and the Atlanta Braves recovered after losing an early three-run lead to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 on Saturday and clinch another series win.

Atlanta led 3-0 after three innings. The Pirates pulled even in the fifth on Brandon Lowe’s sacrifice fly off Strider (4-1).

The Braves delivered a quick answer by scoring three runs off Braxton Ashcraft (5-3) in the bottom of the third. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson reached on singles before their double-steal set up a go-ahead sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies. Smith then lined the two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left field.

Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for his 13th save. He has converted 31 consecutive save opportunities since July 28, 2025, the majors’ longest active streak.

Lowe left the game after fouling a ball off his right knee in the ninth.

The Braves improved the majors’ best record to 44-21. They have won 18 of 21 series, including 10 of 11 at home.

Pirates third baseman Tyler Callihan, making his first start of the season, had a run-scoring double, a walk and a stolen base.

Catcher Austin Wynns, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for cash on Thursday, was held without a hit in his first start for the Braves.

Atlanta held out center fielder Michael Harris II with back tightness. Manager Walt Weiss said the move was precautionary. Harris left Friday night’s 6-3 win in the ninth.

“We’ll give him a day and see how he’s feeling,” Weiss said. “… I think this is gonna be very short term.”

Mauricio Dubón had two hits and scored two runs while filling in for Harris.

Up next

Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-6, 4.89), a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., an Atlanta suburb, is scheduled to start against Braves RHP Bryce Elder (5-3, 2.63) in Sunday’s final game of the series.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr., left, hits an RBI single as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, right looks on during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

ATLANTA (AP) — Mauricio Dubón homered for the third straight game and the Atlanta Braves opened another home series with a victory, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3 on Friday night.

Dubón was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs. It is the first time in his eight-year career he has homered in three consecutive games.

Ronald Acuña Jr. was 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI and Matt Olson had two hits and a run.

Martín Pérez (4-3) went five innings and gave up three runs before giving way to the bullpen, which blanked MLB’s fourth-highest scoring offense in the final four innings. Raisel Iglesias got his 12th save and lowered his ERA to 0.92 after pitching the ninth inning.

The Braves have won the opening game of a home series nine times in 10 tries this season.

Dubón’s two-run, 405-foot homer to left field tied it at 3 in the third inning, and his double gave the Braves a 4-3 lead in the fifth. He later scored on an RBI double by Austin Riley.

Mitch Keller (5-3) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He has given up 13 runs in his last two starts.

Pittsburgh saw its 11-game homer streak end.

Marcell Ozuna, who played for the Braves from 2020-25, was 2 for 4 with an RBI and received a strong ovation before his first at-bat in his first game since departing Atlanta. Nick Gonzalez and Henry Davis also had RBIs.

Up next

Braves RHP Spencer Strider (3-1, 3.77 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (5-2, 2.77).

(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Leetsdale, PA) Quaker Valley’s girls lacrosse team will continue its postseason run in the 2026 PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.

The Lady Quakers (17-3) will face the Wyomissing Spartans (21-1) at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown.

Quaker Valley entered the state tournament as the WPIAL’s No. 2 seed, while Wyomissing, representing Berks County, is the top seed and champion of District 3.

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers announced yesterday that they have signed linebacker Jamin Davis to their 90-man roster.

Davis participated in the team’s minicamp this week on a tryout basis.

He appeared in two games for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, recording three tackles. Davis also has familiarity with Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who previously held the same position with the Raiders.

In 56 career NFL games, Davis has recorded 290 tackles and eight sacks.

Davis, 27, was selected by Washington with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent parts of four seasons with the franchise. He has also spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn watches his two-run home run against Houston Astros starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

HOUSTON (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered and drove in three runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

O’Hearn hit an RBI single in the first inning and his two-run homer in the sixth made it 4-0.

Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones (1-0) allowed four hits and walked two in five scoreless innings. Carmen Mlodzinski gave up four hits and a run the rest of the way to get his first save. It was his first work since being put on the restricted list for a day after general manager Ben Cherington told reporters he wasn’t ready to pitch Sunday following a move to the bullpen.

Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Astros to become the fourth Mexican-born player in the MLB history to reach 100 for his career. But it wasn’t nearly enough to keep Houston from its third loss in four games.

The Pirates’ run of four straight games in which they scored at least nine runs ended. But they still generated plenty of offense to bounce back and take the series after a late-game collapse cost them Wednesday’s game.

Houston starter Kai-Wei Teng (3-4) gave up seven hits and five runs — both season highs — in five-plus innings.

The Pirates led by a run when Brandon Lowe doubled to open the sixth before scoring on a single by Bryan Reynolds.

O’Hearn then launched Teng’s next pitch over the short fence in right field to push the lead to 4-0. Nick Gonzales singled to chase Teng and Steven Okert took over.

Oneil Cruz singled on a groundball to right field. There were two outs in the inning when Jared Triolo reached on an error by Jeremy Peña that allowed Gonzales to score and make it 5-0.

Up next

Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (5-2, 4.35 ERA) opposes Atlanta LHP Martín Pérez (3-3, 2.79) when Pittsburgh opens a three-games series against the Braves on Friday night.

Astros: RHP Peter Lambert (4-4, 3.77) pitches against RHP Jack Perkins (2-2, 5.46) on Friday night in the first of three games against the Athletics.

(File Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lewistown, PA) Blackhawk softball is headed to the PIAA semifinals for the first time in program history after defeating Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast Catholic 2-0 yesterday at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown.

The Lady Cougars will face District 10 champion Harbor Creek in the 2026 PIAA semifinals on Monday, June 8th.

(File Photo of the Hopewell Area School District)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monroeville, PA) Hopewell’s high school baseball season came to an end yesterday with a 10-0 loss to Indiana in six innings at Gateway High School in Monroeville.

The defeat ends Hopewell’s postseason run after the Vikings finished third in the WPIAL and advanced to the state quarterfinals for the second time since 2023.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are making a big investment in tight end Darnell Washington.

The club signed the 6-foot-7, 264-pound Washington to a new five-year contract that will keep him in black and gold for the rest of the decade.

Washington, who had a career-best 31 receptions for 364 yards and a touchdown last season, was about to enter the final year of the rookie contract he signed after being selected in the third round of the 2023 draft.

The deal is the second extension signed by a member of Pittsburgh’s 2023 draft class this week. The team and outside linebacker Nick Herbig agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday.

Washington, who plays well above his listed weight, often works as a sixth offensive lineman but has become increasingly involved in the passing game. First-year head coach Mike McCarthy has raved about Washington’s work ethic and his potential going forward.

“Love Darnell,” McCarthy said this week. “He’s been here every day, in the classroom, good student, he’s a pro’s pro. I’ve been very impressed with him.”

(Credit for Photo: AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran tight end Robert Tonyan, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Tonyan, 32, recently participated in a tryout with the Steelers and will now join the team’s roster.

He spent six seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-2023, where he played alongside current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Tonyan was also coached by Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy when McCarthy was the head coach of the Packers in 2018.

Tonyan’s best season came in 2020, when he caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Last season, Tonyan appeared in all 17 games for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played primarily on special teams and recorded one reception.

Tonyan entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has appeared in 107 career games with 24 starts for the Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Chiefs. He has totaled 149 receptions for 1,550 yards and 17 touchdowns during his career.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press, Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) celebrates after a sack during the first half of an NFL exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The Bills won 9-3.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton have begun discussions on a potential contract extension, according to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now.

Benton, a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is coming off a career year in 2025 in which he recorded 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks, including six tackles for loss.