Mitch Keller maintains a torrid May by keeping Atlanta in check in Pittsburgh’s 4-1 win over the Braves

Mitch Keller maintains a torrid May by keeping Atlanta in check in Pittsburgh’s 4-1 win over the Braves

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mitch Keller pitched the seventh inning, Nick Gonzales had an RBI double and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Saturday.

Keller (6-3) held Atlanta in check for 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight start. The right-hander allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Keller is 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA in May and has worked at least five innings in each of his last 42 starts, the longest active streak in the majors.

“I think I just fill the zone, attack guys, get ahead and stay ahead, using my whole arsenal,” Keller said. “I have a lot of land, so the more I can use it, the more it unbalances it.”

Perhaps just as importantly against the Braves, Keller returned to the mound after a 30-minute rain delay in the fifth. He worked the middle of Atlanta’s order in the sixth and got the first two outs of the seventh before being relieved after hitting Zack Short.

“I was hoping he would get us three outs and the fact that he got us five outs was huge,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Keller. “That’s the story of the game. How sharp he was.

Bryan Reynolds had two hits for Pittsburgh, including a run-scoring single in the seventh that gave the Pirates some breathing room on the day they wore throwback caps to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the team’s World Series title. 1979.

Several players from that club – including Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven, reliever Kent Tekeulve and two-time National League MVP Dave Parker – were honored before the first pitch.

Gonzales doubled and scored for the Pirates and hit .307 with 14 RBIs in 15 games since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. The 24-year-old hit just .209 in 35 games in the majors last season because of what he calls “holes” in his swing.

These “holes” have decreased significantly so far in 2024.

“I’m just in a better position with my swing and my timing and I’m getting a good swing,” Gonzales said.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen, which struggled in two late collapses against San Francisco earlier in the week, avoided a collapse against the Braves. Colin Holderman struck out four of the five batters he faced after replacing Keller. David Bednar induced Ronald Acuna Jr. into a game-ending fielder’s choice with two runs in the ninth to make his 11th save.

Atlanta’s Reynaldo López (2-2) hasn’t been as sharp as he has been in the best two months of his nine-year career. The right-hander – who began the day with a 1.54 ERA, third-lowest in the majors – retired the Pirates in order only once and was hit by the bottom half of the lineup for 4 2/3 mediocre innings. López allowed three runs, two earned on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings as his ERA reached 1.75.

The Braves offense managed only one extra base hit against Keller, an Ozzie Albies double in the first. Jarred Kelenic provided an RBI single in the fourth, but Atlanta did nothing else while suffering a second straight loss.

TRAINERS ROOM

Pirates: 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (back) has returned to full baseball activities. It is unclear whether the Gold Glove winner, who has been out since May 7, will need a rehab assignment before returning. … C Jason Delay (knee) is expected to begin a rehab stint at Triple-A Indianapolis next week.

FOLLOWING

The series ends Sunday when Atlanta’s Chris Sale (7-1, 2.22 ERA) earns his seventh win in as many starts. Martín Pérez (1-3, 4.80), winless since April 4, gets the nod for Pittsburgh.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB