Ozuna, Albies go back-to-back as Braves beat Brewers 6-3

<p>MILWAUKEE &mdash; Marcell Ozuna and Ozzie Albies hit Atlanta’s first back-to-back homers of the season to help the Braves snap a three-game skid with a 6-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.</p>
<p>Atlanta led 2-1 before Ozuna and Albies went deep against reliever Eric Lauer. </p>
<p>On Lauer’s first pitch of the fifth inning, <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1393382616653512706">Ozuna blasted a 439-foot drive to center</a> field that bounced off the American Family Insurance sign at the bottom of the scoreboard. Ozuna heard a chorus of boos from the Milwaukee crowd when he stopped as he rounded third base to pose for an imaginary selfie, a home run celebration <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-marcell-ozuna-atlanta-braves-archive-ian-anderson-e0fa56102106ee7c215825df1b8e8619"> he started doing during the 2020 postseason.</a></p>
<p>Albies followed Ozuna’s shot by sending a 3-2 pitch over the center-field wall as well. <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1393382977367904256">Albies’ homer </a> was projected at 425 feet.</p>
<p>After the Braves squandered leads each of the last three days against Toronto, they built a five-run advantage and hung on this time. Atlanta’s beleaguered bullpen still made things interesting, as Josh Tomlin allowed back-to-back homers to Luis Urías and Manny Piña in the ninth inning.</p>
<p>Atlanta starter Drew Smyly, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-baseball-san-francisco-atlanta-braves-mike-soroka-63b20c08a7f1337cd326e4d69c82b9b8">who signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Braves in the offseason, </a> showed he is starting to come around after a rough first month with his new team. </p>
<p>The 31-year-old left-hander has lasted six innings while giving up just one run in each of his last two starts. Smyly (2-2) allowed 21 runs — 17 earned — over 19 innings in four April starts. </p>
<p>Milwaukee, which has lost nine of 12, took a 1-0 lead in the second when Urías’ single through a drawn-in infield brought home Avisaíl García from third. </p>
<p>The Braves capitalized on Brewers starter Adrian Houser’s wildness to pull ahead for good in the third. </p>
<p>After Houser (3-4) walked the bases loaded, <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1393374937528901637">Austin Riley hit a two-out shot that appeared to go off the pitcher’s right leg before heading into center field </a> for a single that scored Ehire Adrianza and Ozuna.</p>
<p>Houser entered the night having walked just five batters over his last five starts, but he matched that total Friday while lasting a season-low three innings. His five walks were a career high in 37 starts.</p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Braves: OF Ronald Acuña Jr., who entered this series with an MLB-leading 12 homers, wasn’t in the lineup after <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/acu-leaves-braves-game-apparent-191240183.html">injuring his left ankle</a> while trying to beat out a grounder a day earlier. Manager Brian Snitker said there’s a chance Acuña could play Saturday. … OF Cristian Pache went on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring inflammation. The Braves returned OF Ender Inciarte from a rehabilitation assignment and activated him from the IL.</p>
<p>Brewers: OF Christian Yelich began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. He struck out in his only two at-bats. The 2018 NL MVP has played only one game for Milwaukee since April 11 due to a lower back strain.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>It’s a matchup of Andersons as the Braves and Brewers continue their series Saturday in Milwaukee. RHP Ian Anderson (2-1, 3.46 ERA) starts for Atlanta against LHP Brett Anderson (2-2, 3.54).</p>
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