PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons homered to begin a six-run first inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the sliding Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Monday night for their fourth consecutive victory.The early outburst was enough for Ervin Santana, who allowed three solo homers among nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. Santana (13-6) improved to 8-1 over his past 10 starts. 
Pittsburgh has lost six in a row. Starling Marte went deep twice, and Neil Walker added a homer that became the first to reach the Allegheny River beyond right field at PNC Park this season.Relievers Luis Avilan, David Hale and James Russell combined for 3 2-3 hitless innings for Atlanta, which broke a tie with Pittsburgh for third place in the National League wild-card standings.Heyward and Simmons started the game with the Braves' fifth set of back-to-back home runs this season, and it got worse from there for Vance Worley (5-3). Chris Johnson and Gerald Laird had run-scoring singles as Atlanta bolted to a 6-0 lead.Worley managed to pitch six innings and was charged with five earned runs. He allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked two.The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez started at first base in his first career appearance at any spot other than third.Because the Braves did not arrive in Pittsburgh until early Monday morning, manager Fredi Gonzalez elected to rest regulars B.J. Upton and Evan Gattis.Heyward had three hits and a sacrifice fly.
Pittsburgh has lost six in a row. Starling Marte went deep twice, and Neil Walker added a homer that became the first to reach the Allegheny River beyond right field at PNC Park this season.Relievers Luis Avilan, David Hale and James Russell combined for 3 2-3 hitless innings for Atlanta, which broke a tie with Pittsburgh for third place in the National League wild-card standings.Heyward and Simmons started the game with the Braves' fifth set of back-to-back home runs this season, and it got worse from there for Vance Worley (5-3). Chris Johnson and Gerald Laird had run-scoring singles as Atlanta bolted to a 6-0 lead.Worley managed to pitch six innings and was charged with five earned runs. He allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked two.The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez started at first base in his first career appearance at any spot other than third.Because the Braves did not arrive in Pittsburgh until early Monday morning, manager Fredi Gonzalez elected to rest regulars B.J. Upton and Evan Gattis.Heyward had three hits and a sacrifice fly.
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