ATLANTA - The Milwaukee Brewers showed they can win without the long ball.
Eric Lauer allowed one earned run, Christian Yelich's infield single was the big hit in the visitors' four-run sixth inning, and the streaking Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Friday night.
After hitting 20 home runs in a six-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds, the Brewers found different ways to score as they opened a nine-game road trip.
"There's games where it's fun to be in a slugfest," Lauer said, "and games where it's fun to see runs get manufactured."
The Brewers, who sit atop the National League Central Division standings, have won four straight games and nine of their past 10.
Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. opened the fourth with a 450-foot homer to center field - his first since returning from knee surgery that cost him the latter half of last season and the first few weeks of this season. The momentum of Acuña's big swing forced him to fall in the batter's box before he rose to jog around the bases.
"I knew I got all of it," Acuña said through a translator. "I just fell because I slipped a little bit afterward. ... I feel good, thankfully, and I feel healthy. That's the most important thing, thank God."
Acuña's slip surprised Lauer.
"I thought that's kind of embarrassing if he hit it that far while he fell, but it was afterward," Lauer said.
Lauer (3-0) gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. He had eight strikeouts, giving him 32 in his past three starts. The left-hander has allowed no more than one earned run in four consecutive starts and has a 1.82 ERA.
Dansby Swanson added an eighth-inning home run off Jandel Gustave for Atlanta, which opened an eight-game homestand.
Four Milwaukee pitchers combined to allow three hits, including the two homers.
Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 11th save this season. Hader, who had been bothered by back spasms, made his first appearance since April 27. After shortstop Willy Adames' throwing error on Marcell Ozuna's grounder with two outs allowed Atlanta's only baserunner of the ninth, Ozzie Albies popped out to end the game.
The Brewers managed only two infield hits in the big sixth inning, but they took advantage of four walks by Collin McHugh (0-1) and Tyler Matzek. McHugh's walk to Omar Narváez loaded the bases. Lorenzo Cain beat out a fielder's choice grounder that forced Narváez out at second base, giving the Brewers a 3-2 lead.
"I try to hustle as much as possible," Cain said. "I was able to beat it out and it helped start a little rally there, which is nice."
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Cain's play was crucial.
"We sent four more batters to the plate that inning," Counsell said.
Kolten Wong's walk again loaded the bases before Matzek's walk to Adames forced in a run.
Yelich followed with a run-scoring infield single off Tyler Thornburg. Wong scored a second run on the play on Albies' wild throw to second base for an error.
In the first inning, Rowdy Tellez hit a two-run double off Jesse Chavez to center field to drive in Wong and Andrew McCutchen. Chavez allowed three hits and two runs in his only inning, serving as the opener in a bullpen game for Atlanta.
Braves rookie Spencer Strider pitched four scoreless innings behind Chavez, setting a career high with eight strikeouts while throwing fastballs clocked at 101 mph.
"That's the first time I've faced the kid," Cain said. "I think he's going to be really good."
The Braves wore their 1974 throwback uniforms as part of their celebration of late Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron this week.
Aaron began his MLB career in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, who moved to Atlanta in 1966, and played his final two seasons with the Brewers in 1975-76. The Brewers joined the tribute by wearing Aaron's No. 44 on their uniform sleeves.
Braves catcher Manny Piña, on the 10-day injured list since April 25 with left wrist inflammation, is "still a little sore," manager Brian Snitker said. Piña has progressed to baseball activities, including hitting Friday.
Snitker said "everything is going good" for right-handed pitcher Mike Soroka in his recovery from his second torn right Achilles' tendon one year ago. Snitker said Soroka has thrown off the mound "a little bit." Soroka was the Braves' opening day starter in 2020 and could be a boost to the rotation in the second half of the season.
In the second game of the series Saturday night, Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (3-2, 3.00) and Milwaukee right-hander Corbin Burnes (1-1, 1.93) are set to start.