The Atlanta Braves have found a new offensive catalyst in Mauricio Dubón. The versatile infielder continued his blistering start to the month on Friday night, homering for the third consecutive game to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park. The win marks yet another successful home series opener for the Braves, who have made a habit of defending their home turf this season.
Mauricio Dubón Leads the Charge
Mauricio Dubón is currently in the midst of the most productive power stretch of his eight-year Major League career. Entering Friday with home runs in back-to-back games, Dubón stepped to the plate in the third inning with the Braves trailing 3-1. He delivered a towering 405-foot two-run blast to left field, knotting the score and shifting the momentum back to the home dugout.
It was the first time in Dubón's career that he has homered in three straight games. However, he wasn't done contributing. In the fifth inning, Dubón broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI double, scoring later in the frame on an Austin Riley double. By the end of the night, Dubón finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, bringing his totals over the last three games to an impressive 5-for-11 with seven RBIs.
Turning the Tide in the Middle Innings
While the Pirates jumped out to an early lead, the Braves' offense proved too potent to keep down for long. After Henry Davis and Nick Gonzalez drove in runs for Pittsburgh in the third to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage, the Braves responded immediately. Following Dubón's game-tying homer, the Atlanta lineup went to work in the fifth to put the game away for good.
The Braves’ three-run fifth inning was fueled by consistent contact and aggressive baserunning. Ronald Acuña Jr., who finished the night 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, played a key role in keeping the line moving. Matt Olson also contributed two hits and a run, helping the Braves improve their record to 43-21 on the season.
Pitching and Bullpen Excellence
On the mound, Martín Pérez (4-3) earned the win despite a rocky third inning where he surrendered all three of Pittsburgh's runs. Pérez managed to navigate five innings, striking out five and allowing seven hits. While he wasn't at his sharpest, he did enough to keep the Braves within striking distance before the bullpen took over.
The Atlanta relief corps was sensational, throwing four scoreless innings to shut the door on a Pirates offense that entered the game as the fourth-highest scoring unit in the league. The lockdown performance was punctuated by Raisel Iglesias, who pitched a clean ninth inning to secure his 12th save of the season. Iglesias lowered his ERA to a microscopic 0.92 in the process.
- Martín Pérez: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 5 K (W, 4-3)
- Mitch Keller: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 K (L, 5-3)
- Raisel Iglesias: 1.0 IP, 0 R (S, 12)
A Warm Welcome and a Streaking Ending
The night also featured a sentimental moment as former Brave Marcell Ozuna returned to Truist Park for the first time since joining the Pirates. Ozuna, who was a staple in the Atlanta lineup from 2020-2025, received a standing ovation from the fans before his first at-bat. He finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI, though his efforts weren't enough to overcome his former club.
The loss was particularly tough for Pirates starter Mitch Keller, who has now surrendered 13 runs over his last two starts. Furthermore, the Pirates saw their impressive 11-game home run streak come to an end, as the Braves' pitching staff kept the ball in the park all evening.
Braves Dominate Series Openers
With the win, the Atlanta Braves improved to 10-1 in home series openers this season. Their ability to set the tone early in a set has been a major factor in their league-leading pace. The Braves are also now 6-0 at home on Fridays, providing the Atlanta faithful with plenty of reasons to celebrate at Truist Park.
The two teams will return to action on Saturday for the second game of the three-game set, with the Braves looking to clinch another series victory in front of their home crowd.
Sources & Original Reporting
