Jonny Gomes popped the game-winning home run (1) to open the top of the ninth, and the Atlanta Braves scored once more in the inning to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5 Thursday afternoon. 

Gomes took a 1-2 pitch from Clayton Richard over the left-field wall to break a 5-5 tie after Pittsburgh crept back from a 5-0 deficit after one inning. Two outs later, Jesus Flores singled home Chris Johnson with the insurance run that Braves ended up not needing. Flores's hit follwed a two-out, bases-empty error that allowed Zoilo Almonte to reach and Johnson, who doubled, to move to third.

Johnson hit a home run (1) of his own, a two-run shot to cap a five-run first inning as the Braves surged to a big lead early. The home run followed an RBI single from Jace Peterson and RBI groundouts from Christian Bethancourt and Kelly Johnson. The Braves did not score again until Gomes came to bat in the ninth.

Pittsburgh chipped away at the five-run deficit with single runs in each of the first, third, fourth, fifth, and eighth innings. Josh Harrison homered (1) in the first. Andrew McCutchen singled home a run in the third. Francisco Cervelli doubled home a run in the fourth. Neil Walker hit a solo shot (2) in the fifth. Gorkys Hernandez scored the game-tying run in the eighth on a wild pitch from Atlanta's Josh Outman (BS: 2). Pittsburgh did not score again.

Aaron Kurcz (W: 1-1. 5/40 ERA) picked up the win in the easiest manner possible. He pitched to one hitter and threw one pitch, getting Cervelli to bounce out on to end the eighth. Brady Fiegl (S: 1) pitched the ninth to earn the save. He allowed one hit.

Wandy Rodriguez started and pitched five innings for Atlanta. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits and struck out three. Even with this line, he has a very good 2.50 ERA in five starts and 18 innings on the spring.

Richards (L: 1-1, 3.12) allowed the Gomes home run and the Flores single to take the loss. He pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. He walked none and struck out two.

On Friday, the Braves go home to host the Boston Red Sox while Pittsburgh visits the Minnesota Twins. Both games will start at 1:05 p.m. EDT.