MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jake Bauers capped a marathon plate appearance with a tiebreaking two-run homer, Logan Henderson pitched six strong innings and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Saturday.
The Brewers have won six of their last seven games. Atlanta has lost five of six and seven of nine.
Henderson (8-2) continued his impressive rookie season by striking out four while allowing one run, five hits and two walks. He hasn’t allowed
more than three runs in any of his 18 career starts.
Atlanta brought the tying run to the plate after Aaron Ashby allowed consecutive singles to Ozzie Albies and Mauricio Dubón to start the ninth. Ashby then retired Lane Thomas on a fly to left and got a double-play grounder from Austin Riley to earn his second save.
Trevor Megill, the Brewers' usual closer, was unavailable after pitching the last two days.
Milwaukee took the lead for good by scoring three unearned runs in the third.
The Brewers got the leadoff batter on when Atlanta pitcher Martín Pérez (8-8) mishandled a dribbler from Cooper Pratt, who beat the throw to first.
Two outs later, Pratt scored from third when William Contreras singled to left for Milwaukee's first hit. Contreras went 2 for 4 on Saturday and is 6 of 8 in this series.
Bauers then fouled off seven straight pitches before finishing a 12-pitch plate appearance with a 413-foot blast to center.
Joey Ortiz doubled and scored in the fourth to make it 4-1.
Pérez threw 97 pitches but lasted just four innings as Milwaukee’s hitters continually worked counts deep.
Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the first when Michael Harris II doubled home Drake Baldwin.
Harris’ double put runners on third and second with one out, but the Braves couldn’t bring either home. Atlanta went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
The Braves and Brewers face off in the Little League Classic on Sunday at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Tyler Mahle (4-10, 4.53 ERA) pitches for Atlanta and Shane Drohan (6-4, 3.86) starts for Milwaukee.
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