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The Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves sported camouflage caps and helmets tonight as they squared off in the first of three games in Milwaukee. Adrian Houser took the mound for the Brew Crew, and Drew Smyly started for the Braves.
Brewers’ fans are probably getting a bit spoiled with the pitching performances of their starters. Well, they did not get one of those starts tonight as Adrian Houser proved to be wild and unable to go more than three innings. He only gave up two runs, but he issued five walks, a wild pitch, and a balk. Eric would replace him and struggle with giving up hard hit balls. It did not help that the Brewers bats lay dormant for much of the game.
However, things were looking up for Milwaukee early. In the bottom of the second, hot hitting, Avisail Garcia, led the inning off with a double. He later scored on a single by Luis Urias. Unfortunately, the Brewers would not put another run on the board until the bottom of the ninth.
Luis Urías gets the Crew on the board!
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 15, 2021
It's 1-0 in the second.#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/ClAoQvkKWQ
While not an accurate statement, the Braves seemed to be putting a run on the board every inning. They scored their first two in the top of the third. To begin the inning, Adrian Houser issued one of his five walks to Ehire Adrianza. Adrianza proceeded to second on a wild pitch by Houser and then to third on a balk by Houser. Houser then walked Marcell Ozuna and Dansby Swanson. Adrrianza and Ozuna scored on a single by Austin Riley.
Atlanta added two more runs in the fifth. This time it came in the form of back-to-back home runs by Ozuna and Ozzie Albies. Both homers were hit off of Eric Lauer.
The Braves scored again in the top of the seventh. Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna hit back-to-back singles, which resulted on Freeman getting to third base. Brad Boxberger replaced Lauer after the two hits, but he was unable to keep Atlanta scoreless. This time, the Braves played small ball. Dansby Swanson laid down an old-fashioned squeeze play, and Freeman scored Atlanta’s fifth run of the game.
Atlanta put one more run on the board in the top of the eighth. With Josh Lindblom pitching, William Contreras tripled. Ender Inciarte brought him home with a single and the Braves were crusing, 6-1.
Milwaukee did try to make a game of it in the bottom of the ninth. With Josh Tomlin on the mound for Atlanta, the Brewers’ went back-to-back to lead off the inning. Luis Urias put one over the centerfield wall, and Manny Pina unloaded into the left field seats. That would be it for the Brewers, however as they fell, 6-3.
These two teams go at it again tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 CT in Milwaukee. This game will be a battle of the Andersons. Ian Anderson will start for the Braves, while Brett Anderson will go for the Brewers. The game can be heard on WTMJ 620 and the Brewers Radio Network. It can be heard on Bally Sports Wisconsin.