ATLANTA — David Ross and Chipper Jones each drove in three runs, Derek Lowe remained undefeated in his career against Pittsburgh and the surging Atlanta Braves beat the Pirates 7-3 on Friday night.
The Braves had 13 hits, including three by Ross, while improving to 8-2 in their last 10 games.
Ross and Jones each had bases-loaded hits. Ross had a three-run double in the first and Jones knocked Zach Duke (3-5) out of the game with a two-run single in the sixth.
Lowe (7-4) gave up only one run on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He improved to 9-0 in nine career starts against Pittsburgh.
The Braves, 17-8 in May, remained 11/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East.
The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 21 minutes by rain and lightning. Many fans sat under umbrellas and ponchos as rain continued through the first five innings. With the Braves needing only two outs for the win, the rain returned in the ninth inning, forcing another delay of 1:10.
Following the delay, Jonny Venters struck out Jeff Clement and Bobby Crosby to end the game.
Ross, starting in back-to-back games for only the second time this season, helped the Braves take a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Ross filled in for the second straight game for Brian McCann, who was held out a strained right quadriceps.
Lowe earned his second straight win over the Pirates, following a May 22 win at Pittsburgh.
Duke gave up a season-high 12 hits and seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.
He allowed only one run in each of his last two starts.
Pinch-hitter Andy LaRoche and Neil Walker had run-scoring doubles off Eric O’Flaherty in the eighth inning.
After Lowe threw only five pitches while retiring the Pirates in order in the top of the first inning, Duke threw 27 pitches while giving up four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Martin Prado, who had three hits, led off with a single, moved to second on Jason Heyward’s walk and scored on a single by Troy Glaus. Melky Cabrera’s infield single loaded the bases for Ross, who doubled past Lastings Milledge to the left-field wall to drive in three runs.
Lowe, hitting only .067, doubled to lead off the second inning and scored on Jones’ single to right for a 5-0 lead.
The Pirates held out shortstop Ronny Cedeno due to tightness in his lower back.
NOTES: The Pirates placed RHP Charlie Morton on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder fatigue. RHP Steven Jackson, recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, relieved Duke in the sixth. ... LaRoche was held out of the starting lineup for the sixth time in seven games with a sore back. He played Thursday after missing five games. ... Lowe’s double was his first extra-base hit since Aug. 20, 2006 when he hit a double for the Dodgers at San Francisco. ... Ross also started in consecutive games on May 6-7. ... RHP Todd Redmond pitched a no-hitter for Triple-A Gwinnett Braves in a 4-0 win at Louisville.