Braves beat Brewers 8-7 on homer by Ozzie Albies

Atlanta's Ozzie Albies is congratulated as he returns to the Braves' dugout after hitting a tiebreaking home run during the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Atlanta's Ozzie Albies is congratulated as he returns to the Braves' dugout after hitting a tiebreaking home run during the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
photo Atlanta's Ozzie Albies is congratulated as he returns to the Braves' dugout after hitting a tiebreaking home run during the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

ATLANTA - As he watched hitter after hitter reach base for the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon at SunTrust Park, Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker felt like his team was always behind.

Way behind.

Instead, the Braves stayed close despite being outhit 19-9, and a tiebreaking home run by Ozzie Albies in the seventh inning lifted them to an 8-7 win as they took two of three games in the weekend series with the Brewers, fellow playoff contenders.

"I'm so proud of the way the guys fought today," Snitker said. "At one point of the game I felt like we were about eight runs down. There's a lot of grit in these guys, a lot of fight. They're tough."

The homer by Albies was one of three hit by Atlanta, with Ronald Acuna Jr. and Dansby Swanson adding two-run shots.

The Brewers had two or more hits in each of the first seven innings.

"It was tough when they keep getting hits, but we have to keep fighting through it and that's what we did today," Albies said. "We never give up."

Milwaukee's Jesus Aguilar drove in four runs with three hits, including a three-run homer. The Brewers left 13 runners on base; the Braves stranded four.

"It was a crazy game," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "When you strand 13, you always think you've left runs out there."

The Brewers' inability to deliver with runners on base reached a peak in the seventh. Facing Atlanta reliever Jonny Venters (2-1), Ryan Braun hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the inning.

Albies gave Atlanta the lead by lining his 21st homer of the season over the left-field wall on a slider from Dan Jennings (4-4) to lead off the seventh.

Milwaukee also left the bases loaded in the fourth.

A.J. Minter pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances this year. Eric Kratz hit a one-out single before Lorenzo Cain, who had four hits, flied out. After Kratz moved to second on a wild pitch, Minter struck out Christian Yelich to end the game.

After allowing only one earned run in three straight starts, Sean Newcomb lasted only four innings, giving up five runs on 12 hits and two walks. The left-hander was tagged for a combined 10 runs on 17 hits in 7 2/3 innings in two starts against the Brewers this season.

Brewers starter Chase Anderson also was pulled after four innings, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks.

Anderson, who took a .088 batting average into the game, enjoyed a rare hitting highlight. He slapped an 0-2 pitch from Newcomb up the middle for a two-run single in the second. He also drove in two runs against the Cubs on Sept. 9, 2017.

The temperature for the first pitch was 86, and each starter struggled with humid conditions. Snitker noticed Newcomb frequently grabbing handfuls of dirt on the mound. Anderson had similar problems.

"I couldn't get my hand dry the first couple of innings," Anderson said. "I couldn't figure that out."

Braves right-hander Touki Toussaint is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to make his MLB debut in the first game of Monday's split doubleheader against Miami. Toussaint, 22, joins Kolby Allard and Mike Soroka as first-time starters for Atlanta this season.

Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz will start the night game.

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