PITTSBURGH — Instead of leaving PNC Park elated after one of the best days of his career, Pittsburgh’s Steve Pearce was disappointed that he didn’t come through in the clutch.

Pearce homered for the first time in 20 months and went 3 for 5 with two RBIs Wednesday.

But he grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and one out in a tie game in the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves earned a 4-2 win in 11 innings.

“I’m looking to a get a ball in the air there to get at least one run home but I rolled over on a pitch,” said Pearce, who matched career bests in hits and RBIs.

“It was frustrating. We were all set up to win the game and I did the last thing you’d want to do in that situation. The tough part is that I’d been swinging the bat well all day, but I couldn’t come through when I needed to the most.”

Brooks Conrad hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the 11th inning off Jeff Karstens (3-3) to lift Atlanta.

That capped a two-game sweep and handed the Pirates their third consecutive loss, despite another strong outing from James McDonald.