Albies’ 3-run homer in the 8th gives the Braves a 4-2 victory over the Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ozzie Albies wanted another chance to step to the plate with the game on the line after failing to deliver a night earlier.

Given that opportunity, Albies wasted no time making amends.

Albies hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Atlanta trailed 2-1 before Albies’ 407-foot shot to left-center.

“I actually want to be in those spots,” Albies said. “It’s fun when you can help the team with something to win games and score runs. To me, it’s exciting when you get up in those spots.”

Albies’ 23rd homer of the season came one day after Devin Williams struck him out with the bases loaded to end the Braves’ 4-3 loss at Milwaukee. The three-time All-Star had gone 0 for 16 since Wednesday before connecting.

“He’s got a slow heartbeat in him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He doesn’t panic or anything.”

Albies connected on a first-pitch sinker from Elvis Peguero (1-3) to end a string of 28 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings by Brewers relievers.

“They’ve been a big reason why we’re at where we are,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “A little bit, we’ve got to point to like, we’re giving them a one-run lead. Scoring two runs is probably, regardless of what happens the rest of the game, it’s probably not going to win you a lot of games.”

Milwaukee lost two of three to the NL East-leading Braves as its NL Central advantage dipped to a half-game over the Cincinnati Reds, who beat Arizona 7-3 earlier in the day. The Brewers and Reds open a three-game series Monday in Milwaukee.

Atlanta slugger Austin Riley went 0 for 4 to end his streak of five straight games with a homer, which matched a Braves record. Riley had gone 10 for 21 with six homers and 16 RBIs over his last five games, the first time a Braves player had that many homers and RBIs in a five-game span since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920.

Daysbel Hernández (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win in his big league debut. Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.

Atlanta’s Travis d’Arnaud went 2 for 4 with a solo homer and a double. Milwaukee’s Brice Turang hit a 417-foot drive into the second deck of the right-field stands for his first homer since May 14.

The Brewers wasted a bounce-back performance from Julio Teheran, who struck out five and gave up just three hits, one run and no walks in six innings. Teheran entered the day having allowed 17 runs over 16 1/3 innings in his last three starts.

Braves starter Bryce Elder also broke out of a slump while allowing two runs and four hits in six innings.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Host the Reds on Monday. The scheduled starters are RHP Colin Rea (5-4, 4.64) for the Brewers and RHP Graham Ashcraft (5-7, 5.77) for the Reds. Pregame at 6:35 p.m., first pitch at 7:10 p.m. on KFIZ.