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Bethancourts first career home run in 9th inning lifts Atlanta Braves past Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-4
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Atlanta Braves' Chris Johnson, right, hugs teammate Freddie Freeman after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Atlanta. - photo by John Bazemore

ATLANTA — Christian Bethancourt lined Vance Worley’s first pitch in the ninth inning over the right-field wall for his first career homer, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Bethancourt had three hits, including the drive off Worley (2-4). The ball, curving toward the foul pole, cleared the wall beyond the reach of right fielder Gregory Polanco.

Polanco had three hits, including a two-run single off Jim Johnson in the eighth that tied the score at 4.

Jason Grilli (1-2) pitched a perfect inning and the Braves ended Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak.

Chris Johnson hit his first homer of the season in the second for Atlanta.

Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer in the fourth for a 2-all tie.

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