Andy LaRoche’s 2-run single in 9th lifts Pirates over Braves 3-1

Andy LaRoche’s 9th-inning hit leads Pirates

ATLANTA — Andy LaRoche hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 Thursday to split the four-game series.

LaRoche leaned forward to slap a 3-2 pitch from Rafael Soriano (1-1) up the middle for the tiebreaking hit.

Steven Jackson (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Matt Capps worked a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

Atlanta’s Javier Vazquez gave up only two hits and one run in eight innings. He matched his season high with 12 strikeouts and took over the NL lead with 105.

Andrew McCutchen led off the Pittsburgh ninth with a single, moved up on a sacrifice and took third on a groundout. Adam LaRoche was intentionally walked and advanced to second without a throw on ball three to his brother.

Andy LaRoche followed with his go-ahead hit.

Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected by first-base umpire Brian Knight in the bottom of the ninth for a call that Kelly Johnson was out at first. Cox was tossed after throwing his cap to the ground, and it was the second time he came out of the dugout to argue a call by Knight.

Vazquez, who did not walk a batter for the second straight start, gave up a fifth-inning homer to Delwyn Young and a second-inning single to Andy LaRoche.

Vazquez, who has a 3.31 ERA, has a loss and two no-decisions in his last three starts despite allowing a combined total of four runs.

Paul Maholm gave up four hits and one unearned run in seven innings. He set a season high with eight strikeouts and walked three in his sixth no-decision in his last eight starts.

An error helped the Braves take a 1-0 lead in the fourth. With two outs, shortstop Jack Wilson couldn’t field a grounder by Matt Diaz. Diaz stole second and scored on Jeff Francoeur’s single.

The Pirates pulled even in the fifth on Young’s first homer of the season.