Mitch Keller hit hard, gives up 6 runs as Pirates drop series opener to Braves

Matt Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 5, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ATLANTA — Mitch Keller hoped to put a rocky month of May behind him.

Instead, in his first start of June against the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves on Friday night at Truist Park, his struggles only continued. Keller took his third loss of the season, giving up seven hits, six runs and walking three across 4 2/3 innings as the Pirates lost, 6-3.

Former Pirate Martin Perez got the win for the Braves, going five innings and giving up three hits and three runs.

The Pirates took the lead with a three-run third inning. Henry Davis hit a sacrifice fly to center field, Nick Gonzales drove in a run with a dribbling infield single and Marcell Ozuna knocked an opposite-field RBI single.

Keller got hit hard from there, giving up five runs across the next three innings. He hung a curveball in the third to Mauricio Dubon, who crushed it 405 feet to left field for a game-tying two-run homer.

He then allowed four hits and three runs in the fifth, including two doubles and two singles hit above 105 mph off the bat.

Following the fifth, the Braves’ bullpen didn’t allow a single hit across the remaining four innings.

It was over when …

… Austin Riley doubled off the right-field wall to put the Braves ahead, 6-3.

On the mound

The typically reliable Keller has been shaky during the past few weeks. He’s given up a home run in four of his past six starts and allowed six or more runs three times since May 13.

He had a 2.85 ERA after his first start of May, and that’s now dipped to 4.81 a month later. Aside from Dubon — a right-handed batter who went 2 for 3 with three RBIs against — the Braves’ lefties in particular gave Keller trouble.

Keller allows a .270 batting average against left-handers, and Acuna, Michael Harris II and Olson took advantage to go a combined 4 for 7 in the first four innings.

Evan Sisk relieved Keller in the fifth and went 1 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and striking out three. Dennis Santana pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, and Brandan Bidois struck out two in the eighth.

At the plate

The Pirates combined for four hits, and two them came from Ozuna.

Their offense had been scorching hot as of late — homering in 11 straight games and averaging 8.2 runs over the last five games — but couldn’t find any answers for the Braves after a three-run third inning. The Pirates drew three walks and tallied just one hit across the final four frames.

Bucs bites

— Ozuna got a loud ovation from the crowd at Truist Park when he stepped into the box for his first at-bat in the second inning. The designated hitter hit a career-high 40 home runs for the Braves in 2023.

— Oneil Cruz went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. That marked the first time in nine games he didn’t tally a hit or draw a walk.

Up next

The Pirates will aim to even the series at 4:10 p.m. Saturday. Braxton Ashcraft (5-2, 2.77) will toe the slab for the Pirates, and Spencer Strider (3-1, 3.77) will take the mound for the Braves.