Braves Play Long Ball to Win, 8-6

Javy Lopez hit a solo home run leading off the eighth inning, his second of the game, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-6, Saturday night.

Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones also homered for the Braves, who lead the league with 94 home runs. Andruw Jones hit the 200th homer of his career.

Atlanta won its fourth in a row and the Pirates lost for the fourth time in five games.

Lopez hit the first pitch from Brian Boehringer (3-2) to left-center field for a 7-6 lead.

Lopez has 16 homers this season after hitting only 11 all of last season.

In the sixth inning, Lopez hit another solo shot to bring the Braves within 6-5, and they tied it in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Marcus Giles.

Roberto Hernandez (5-2) pitched a scoreless eighth, and John Smoltz came on in the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances.