ATLANTA, June 3 (UPI) -- Kris Medlen yielded just one unearned run over seven innings and Atlanta backed him with three homers Monday in the Braves' 7-2 win over Pittsburgh.
Medlen (2-6) posted his first victory since April 9 -- a span of 10 starts -- limiting the Pirates to seven hits. The right-hander didn't issue a walk and struck out six in tossing 68 of his 102 pitches for strikes.
Brian McCann smacked a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fourth while Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman each went deep with a runner aboard in the next frame, breaking the contest open.
Chris Johnson went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the National League East-leading Braves took a win in the opener of a three-game set.
A.J. Burnett (3-6) was roughed up for six runs on eight hits over five full innings for the Pirates, who fell for the third time in four games.
Gaby Sanchez and Pedro Alvarez each knocked in a run for Pittsburgh.
