Pirates pound spring training-best 15 hits against Braves, but blow 3-run lead in 9th

The Pittsburgh Pirates got their most hits in a Grapefruit League game this spring, digging out of an early two-run deficit by banging out 15 in building a three-run lead over the Atlanta Braves.

But the Braves rallied to score four runs off Jaden Woods in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 win Saturday afternoon at CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla.

The Pirates got six hits off Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach, who allowed three runs in three innings. They were led by third baseman Jared Triolo, who went 3 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored.

Designated hitter Andrew McCutchen had an RBI single and drew a pair of walks and is 3 for 4 with four walks in his last three games.

After Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run double to left field off Pirates starter Mike Burrows in the first inning to give the Braves a 2-0 lead, the Pirates tied it in the third when McCutchen singled to score Triolo and Endy Rodriguez singled to drive in Oneil Cruz.

Left fielder Jack Suwinski drove in the go-ahead run with a double to left in the fourth, improving his average to .368 (7 for 19). Right fielder Bryan Reynolds singled twice and drove in a run in the fourth for a 4-2 lead. Reynolds has reached base safely in six of his last seven games while boosting his batting average to .316 (6 for 19).

Matt Gorski picked up his 11th RBI — tied for the Grapefruit League lead — with a single to drive in Bryce Johnson in the eighth for a 5-2 lead.

After Burrows allowed two runs on two hits and one walk with one strikeout in two innings in his second start of spring training, the Pirates bullpen got scoreless innings from David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Tim Mayza, Ryan Borucki and Kyle Nicolas. But the Braves scored four runs (three earned) on four hits off Woods, who took the loss.

Note: Lefty Andrew Heaney is expected to start against AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal when the Pirates visit the Detroit Tigers at 1:05 p.m. Sunday in Lakeland.