ATLANTA, July 28 (UPI) -- Andrew McCutchen put Pittsburgh in front with a fifth-inning double Thursday and added a two-run homer, sending the Pirates to a 5-2 win over Atlanta.
McCutchen snapped a 1-1 tie by driving in Xavier Paul with his double and a groundout by Pedro Alvarez later in the inning brought in another run.
The Pirates were clinging to a 3-2 lead in the ninth when Steve Pearce led off the inning with a walk and McCutchen followed by hitting George Sherrill's first pitch over the wall in left-center.
Pittsburgh, which has surprisingly become a factor in the National League Central race, had lost five of its previous seven.
Kevin Correia gave up nine hits over 6 1/3 innings but limited the damage to two runs to get the victory. Joel Hanrahan recorded the final four outs to collect his 30th save.
Derek Lowe (6-9) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings.
