Dominic Smith blasts a 2-run homer as Braves improve the majors' best record by beating Pirates 6-3

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.

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.

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, right, steals second base against Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, left, during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits an RBI double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

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)

TORONTO (AP) — Yohendrick Piñango and Brandon Valenzuela hit solo home runs, Andrés Giménez had two hits and an RBI and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Sunday.

Piñango opened Toronto’s five-run sixth inning with a homer off Shane Baz (3-6), his fourth of the season. Valenzuela connected off Rico Garcia to begin the eighth, his seventh.

Baltimore’s Taylor Ward hit a two-run home run, his third. Colton Cowser added a solo homer, his sixth, but the Orioles lost their second straight.

Left-hander Adam Macko (2-0) pitched one inning for the win and Louis Varland got the final four outs for his 11th save in 11 chances.

Giménez scored the tiebreaking run, coming home from second base on an infield single by pinch hitter Nathan Lukes to cap Toronto’s five-run sixth.

Lukes’ hit was deflected by pitcher Yennier Cano and rolled to second baseman Jackson Holliday, who used his glove to scoop the ball to Pete Alonso at first. Giménez advanced to third and broke for home, sliding in ahead of catcher Samuel Basallo's tag.

The Orioles thought they’d ended the inning several batters earlier. The Blue Jays had runners at the corners with one out when Valenzuela hit a grounder to shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Toronto’s Ernie Clement appeared to leave the baseline to avoid Henderson’s tag before Henderson threw to first, but second base umpire Nic Lentz did not call Clement out. Kazuma Okamoto, Giménez and Lukes all followed with RBI hits.

Toronto’s rally wiped out Baltimore’s four-run fifth off Kevin Gausman. After Cowser hit a one-out homer, Holliday and Blaze Alexander had back-to-back doubles before Ward’s two-run blast.

Orioles: Baltimore had not named a starter for Monday’s home game against Seattle. RHP Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.80 ERA) is scheduled for the Mariners.

Blue Jays: LHP Patrick Corbin (2-2, 3.98 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday against Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (7-2, 1.46).

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

Baltimore Orioles' Shane Baz (34) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman (34) works against the Baltimore Orioles during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Baltimore Orioles' Taylor Ward (3) celebrates after his two-run home run with teammate Blaze Alexander, right, during fifth-inning baseball game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Baltimore Orioles' Blaze Alexander, right, watches his RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during fifth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Andrés Giménez (0) celebrates with George Springer, second from left, after scoring on a single hit by Nathan Lukes (not shown) against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)