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Final Score: Pittsburgh 2 - Atlanta 10

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Mark Teixeira smashed a two-run homer that sparked a seven-run eighth inning, as the Atlanta Braves pummeled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-2, for their first win of the campaign.

"We needed that one," said Teixeira. "(After) losing two close ones, just finally getting one where we can breathe easy in the ninth was nice. ... I got a good pitch to hit, and I didn't miss it. That's what our offense is capable of -- we've got a great group of guys out here, and (when) we're swinging the bats well, we're going to put up some runs."

After dropping their season opener in the debut of Nationals Park in Washington on Sunday, 3-2, when a ninth inning homer by Ryan Zimmerman sank Atlanta, the Braves fell to Pittsburgh, 12-11, in 12 innings on Tuesday. Atlanta had rallied from five runs down to force extra innings, but Xavier Nady's three-run home run was the difference in the 12th.

On Wednesday, Atlanta was determined to eliminate any chance of a dramatic finish.

The Braves broke away from Pittsburgh by sending 10 batters to the plate in their final at-bat.

Pirates reliever Tyler Yates was lifted after walking Chipper Jones to start the frame, and Damaso Marte was welcomed into the game by Mark Teixeira, who clobbered a knee-high 2-1 pitch over the wall in center field for a two-run homer, pushing the Atlanta lead to 5-2.

Back-to-back base hits by Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann put runners on the corners, and Matt Diaz singled home Francoeur to put the Braves ahead 6-2.

Kotsay grounded into a fielder's choice which again put runners at first and third, and the Bucs turned to Evan Meek to relieve Marte, marking his first- ever big league appearance.

Meek surrendered an infield single to Martin Prado that scored McCann, and Yunel Escobar followed by slamming Meek's first offering into the center field stands. The three-run blast gave Atlanta a comfortable 10-2 cushion.

"I felt good," said Meek. "A little nervous, I think, (as) expected. (I) just made one mistake, and paid for it, but (it was) a good learning experience, good to get the first one out of the way, and (I will) just move on from here."

Escobar finished 2-for-4 for the Braves, who have triumphed in six of their last eight meetings with the Pirates. Prado tripled, knocked in a run and scored three himself, and Jones went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in.

Jair Jurrjens (1-0) notched his first career win in the National League after coming over from Detroit in the offseason in exchange for Edgar Renteria. Jurrjens lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and fanning five while walking one.

Nady drove in both Pittsburgh runs, giving him a total of nine RBI in two games. Freddy Sanchez and Jason Bay scored for the Pirates, while Sanchez and Ryan Doumit each ended with a pair of hits.

Tom Gorzelanny (0-1) absorbed the loss, giving up three runs on six hits over six innings of work.

Atlanta jumped on top in the home half of the first. Prado crushed a 1-1 offering off the bottom of the center field fence, and rather than carom off the wall, the ball died upon impact, resting beneath the padding and allowing Prado to land at third base. After Escobar fanned looking, Jones sent a frozen rope up the middle, scoring Prado for a 1-0 edge.

It was 2-0 in the third when Jones' sacrifice fly hovered down the right field foul line and brought in Prado, who drew a four-pitch walk and advanced to third on an Escobar single.

Diaz extended the Braves' advantage to 3-0 in the fourth with a two-out solo blast into the seats in right field.

Pittsburgh was finally able to do some damage against Jurrjens in the sixth inning, chasing him from the game. Sanchez led off with a single to left, and Jurrjens walked Bay to put men on first and second with no outs.

An Adam LaRoche groundout on the right side of the infield advanced the runners, and then Tuesday's hero Nady punched a base hit into left that knocked in both runs, putting the Pirates behind by one.

When Doumit followed with a single to left, moving Nady to third, Jurrjens was promptly yanked for righthander Jeff Bennett, who escaped the jam by inducing a doubleplay grounder off the bat of Jose Bautista, preserving Atlanta's slim lead.