AP

Acuña goes deep again, leads Fried, Braves over Brewers

May 7, 2022, 7:24 AM | Updated: 8:09 pm

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong (16) tags out Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) in the ...

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong (16) tags out Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)

(AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)


              Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong (16) tags out Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rowdy Tellez, left, makes a catch during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) catches a pop fly during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong, top, tags out Atlanta Braves' Adam Duvall (14) during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, left, tags out Milwaukee Brewers' Tyrone Taylor (15) for the final out during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) works in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) celebrates his home run with third base coach Ron Washington during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. gestures after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves right fielder Adam Duvall (14) catches pop fly during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson catches the ball in the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) tags out Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe (12) during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) rounds second base in the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) works the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (54) works the first inning of a baseball game against Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)
            
              Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a solo home run in the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr)

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a fifth-inning homer for the game’s first run, Max Fried outpitched Corbin Burnes and the Atlanta Braves held off the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Saturday night.

Asked to protect a 3-1 lead, Braves closer Kenley Jansen gave up a run in the ninth. Christian Yelich, who led off with a double, scored on Tyrone Taylor’s one-out single to cut the Braves’ lead to one run.

Jansen then struck out Rowdy Tellez and Taylor was caught stealing for a double play to end the game. The Brewers unsuccessfully challenged the call on Taylor. Jansen earned his eighth save.

It was the second runner thrown out in the game by Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who also delivered a key run-scoring single off Luis Perdomo in the eighth.

“Travis was unbelievable again, especially with the two throw-outs,” Fried said.

Fried (4-2) allowed one run on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings to end Milwaukee’s four-game winning streak.

“He goes out there ad puts up those zeroes and gives you a chance against a really tough pitcher,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

The teams have split the first two games of the rematch of last season’s NL Division Series won by the Braves on their way to their World Series championship.

Acuña’s homer off Burnes (1-2) was his second in two games as he continued to prove he has fully recovered from knee surgery.

Burnes lowered his ERA from 1.93 to 1.86 while allowing two runs, one earned, in six innings. He gave up six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Travis Demeritte’s diving catch of Christian Yelich’s shallow liner in left field kept the Brewers scoreless in the sixth. With two outs, Luis Urías singled and moved to third on Willy Adames’ double. Demeritte then raced in toward the infield to rob Yelich of a hit that likely would have driven in two runs.

Fried said the Braves’ strong defense made it easier to pitch when he knew “you don’t have to shoulder the whole load.”

Hunter Renfroe led off the Brewers seventh with his sixth homer for the only run allowed by Fried.

Acuña, making back-to-back starts in right field for the first time since returning from 2021 knee surgery on April 28, led off the game with a single off the right-field wall.

In the fifth, Acuña’s blast over the wall in left-center snapped a scoreless tie.

On Friday night, Acuña fell in the batter’s box after his big home-run swing. This time, Acuña kept his feet, borrowed from LeBron James’ “Silencer” celebration and thumped his chest while looking into the Braves dugout before beginning his path around the bases.

James posted approval on his Twitter account of the celebration by Acuña, who was thrilled by the recognition.

“To be honest, I never expected that but I’m beyond grateful for that support,” Acuña said through a translator.

Acuña walked and stole second in the seventh.

The Brewers committed two errors, including a two-base fielding miscue by Lorenzo Cain in center field, allowing Marcell Ozuna’s single to bounce past him in the sixth. Ozuna advance to third and scored on Albies’ sharp grounder past Tellez at first base.

Renfroe’s walk to open the second ended Fried’s streak of 29 innings without a free pass. Renfroe was thrown out by d’Arnaud while attempting to steal second base to end the inning.

STRIDER’S ROLE

Braves rookie Spencer Strider’s four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on Friday night highlighted his potential as a starter. Meanwhile, his fastball clocked at 101 mph makes the right-hander look like a future closer.

For now, Strider will continue to work out of Atlanta’s bullpen. Snitker acknowledged he doesn’t know if that’ll be Strider’s long-term job.

“I just think he’s a pitcher right now,” Snitker said. “I don’t know that he needs a defined role yet. … I think the best thing we can do is continue to give him innings.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: OF Andrew McCutchen was placed on the COVID-19 injured list after testing positive. Manager Craig Counsell said McCutchen had symptoms on Saturday before returning to the team hotel. It was not known if McCutchen will be able to join the team on its trip to Cincinnati following Sunday’s game. INF Mike Brosseau was recalled from Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

Brewers LHP Aaron Ashby (0-2, 2.33), who has worked in relief and as a spot starter, moves back into the rotation for an indefinite period when he makes his third start of the season in Sunday’s final game of the series against Braves RHP Charlie Morton (1-3, 6.85). Morton is attempting to regroup following a slow start to the season.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Acuña goes deep again, leads Fried, Braves over Brewers