Andrew McCutchen's two-run home run in the ninth inning secured a 5-2 win for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on Thursday.

The win moves the surprising Pirates into a second place tie with the St. Louis Cardinals, 1- games behind the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Following a 47-minute rain delay, McCutchen's RBI double in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie and Pedro Alvarez also drove in a run to stretch the Pirates' lead to 3-1.

"I changed something simple," said McCutchen, who had struggled with an average of .156 since the All-Star break.

"The thing about me is, when I am not feeling too well, if it feels like something is off, I can always figure it out pretty quick just by looking at film.

"It is nothing really difficult, so we looked at some video and said 'all right, make that adjustment,' and I was able to do it and I had a pretty good game."

The Braves narrowed the Pirates' lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning on a throwing error by Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

Cedeno's throw to first base on a ground ball sailed wide allowing Freddie Freeman, who doubled to lead-off the inning, to score from second base.

Both teams squandered opportunities as the Braves hit into four double plays and the Pirates stranded 10 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

"Even early on tonight we didn't get a guy in from third with less than two outs," Braves catcher David Ross said. "Like I said yesterday, we've got to do that stuff now."

Pirates starter Kevin Correia won his 12th game of the season allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out three in 6-1/3 innings. Joel Hanrahan secured the final four outs for Pittsburgh for his 30th save of the season

RBI Major league baseball