Acuna returns, Ozuna homers as Braves defeat Brewers 3-0

Tue, May 17, 2022
MLB News (AP)

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to action, Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves ended their scoring drought in a 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

Adam Duvall scored an unearned run in the fifth to end a string of 20 straight scoreless innings for the Braves' lineup. Ozuna extended the lead to 3-0 in the eighth with his sixth homer of the season, a 421-foot shot to left off Brad Boxberger.

Acuna was back atop the Atlanta lineup as the designated hitter after missing five games with a sore groin. The Braves have been cautious in his usage as he comes back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that caused him to miss the second half of the 2021 season.

"He'll play tonight, and then we'll check him out in the morning and see where we're at," Braves manager Brian Snitker said before the game. "It's just going to pretty much have to be how he comes in every day, what he's feeling."

Acuna beat out an infield hit to start the game and went 1 for 3 with two walks and a run scored. He stole a base for the sixth time in 11 games.

Tucker Davidson (1-0) threw five shutout innings for Atlanta after getting called up from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day. In his only other major league appearance this season, Davidson allowed five runs over 2 2/3 innings of relief as the Braves fell 11-2 to the Washington Nationals on April 11.

The Brewers loaded the bases in the eighth on three walks before Lorenzo Cain hit a two-out grounder to the left side of the infield. Braves third baseman Austin Riley made a nice play going to his left to field the ball before throwing to first baseman Matt Olson, who caught it on a bounce.

Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth for his ninth save in as many opportunities.

Acuna played a role in the fifth-inning rally that put the Braves ahead for good.

After Duvall and Dansby Swanson started the rally with consecutive one-out singles, Acuna hit a ball that went off the glove of Brewers third baseman Mike Brosseau and headed into left field.

That allowed Duvall to score the Braves' first run since the fourth inning of a 7-3, 11-inning loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The Brewers hadn't allowed a run since the third inning of a 7-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Brewers starter Adrian Houser (3-4) struck out six and allowed four hits and two walks in six innings.

MILWAUKEE PITCHER SUSPENDED

Brewers RHP J.C. Mejia was suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, a synthetic steroid derived from testosterone. The Brewers replaced him by calling up RHP Trevor Kelley from Triple-A Nashville.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: LHP Tyler Matzek went on the injured list, retroactive to May 14, with left shoulder inflammation. "He'll be shut down for a couple of weeks, and then we'll re-evaluate him and see where he's at," Snitker said.

Brewers: SS Willy Adames felt better Tuesday than he did Monday, raising hope that he could avoid a trip to the injured list as he recovers from a sprained left ankle. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said Adames isn't expected to play Wednesday or in Friday's series opener against Washington. "I just want to feel stronger and get to a position where I know I can give my best out there and not just play to be playing," Adames said. ... OF Andrew McCutchen rejoined the team after a bout with COVID-19 that caused him to spend a week in an Atlanta hotel room. He remained out of the lineup.

UP NEXT

The three-game series concludes Wednesday afternoon with LHP Max Fried (4-2, 3.14 ERA) starting for the Braves against RHP Corbin Burnes (1-2, 1.77).

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