Pirates vs. Braves 6-4 Battle Delayed
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to make a comeback, but have to remain patient with severe weather in the area.
The series finale between the Pirates and Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on July 9 entered a rain delay at the end of the fifth inning at 2:29 p.m., with the Braves leading 6-4.
Thunderstorms are in the area and are forecasted to come right through Pittsburgh, with rain already coming down.
Pittsburgh's groundscrew quickly put down the tarp ahead of the rain and will wait until they can get back out there and have the field ready for competition once again.
Pirates Looking to Earn Home Series Win
Pittsburgh has hit three home runs vs. Atlanta, but needs some more offense and a better bullpen showing to avoid defeat.
Left fielder Bryan Reynolds and right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez hit back-to-back solo home runs in the third inning and then center fielder Jake Mangum hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
Pirates right-handed starting pitcher Mitch Keller had his shortest outing of the season, throwing just three innings and 72 pitches. He gave up a solo home run in the first inning and then two more runs in the third inning.
Right-handed relief pitcher Cam Sanders struggled for the Pirates, giving up three runs in the fifth inning, which included a two-run home run to Braves shortstop Jim Jarvis, his first MLB home run.
Pirates right-handed relief pitcher Hunter Stratton got the Pirates out of the fourth inning and threw a scoreless fifth inning, against his former team in the Braves.
Rain Delays This Season for the Pirates
This is the second straight homestand for the Pirates with a rain delay, as they had two vs. the Cincinnati Reds, June 27.
The first rain delay set back the first pitch of the second game of the series by 35 minutes, moving it from 4:05 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. The second rain delay took place in the bottom of the eighth inning and lasted about an hour, from 4:20 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.
It marks the third rain delay in a game this season for the Pirates, as they had a two-and-a-half-hour delay after the fourth inning vs. the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park on April 18.
The Pirates also had rain delays vs. the Washington Nationals on April 14 and the Reds on May 1, both at PNC Park. The Nationals delay was just 15 minutes for first pitch, while the Reds game was 75 minutes.
Pirates OnSI will provide updates if there is any change to the restart time or a cancellation
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.