MLB: Atlanta 9, Pittsburgh 6

ATLANTA, July 30 (UPI) -- Jeff Francoeur drove in four runs Saturday night as Atlanta beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-6.

The Braves' Julio Franco notched his 2,500th career hit as Atlanta won its fifth straight and extended its lead over Washington in the National League East to five games.

Winning pitcher Kyle Davies improved to 5-3. He allowed three hits and two runs in six innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Marcus Giles and Rafael Furcal also had two hits for the Braves.

Loser Mark Redman sank to 5-11. In five innings, he yielded seven runs on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Jason Bay, who hit a three-run homer, and Chris Duffy each had two hits for Pittsburgh, which has dropped four in a row.