By WILL GRAVES
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- The Evan Gattis story just keeps getting better.
So do the Atlanta Braves.
The rookie catcher hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth to lift the Braves to a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
Gattis turned on a sinker from Pittsburgh reliever Jared Hughes (1-1) and drilled it down the line to continue his remarkable emergence.
"I was a little surprised," Gattis said. "I didn't think I hit it hard enough. It started hooking and I'm glad it did because I don't think it would have gone out otherwise."
Maybe Gattis shouldn't be shocked. The former highly coveted high school player turned janitor and ski-lift operator (among other odd jobs) turned late bloomer is helping power the Braves to the league's best record.
Atlanta brothers B.J. and Justin Upton homered in the same game for the second time this season as the Braves continued their torrid play.
Atlanta improved to a major league-best 13-2 after Gattis smacked a home run in his first pinch-hit appearance in the majors.