Braves beat Brewers, extend streak on road
MILWAUKEE — Ian Anderson took a no-hitter bid into the seventh inning, Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Saturday night.
Anderson (3-1) cruised through the first six innings, mixing a 96 mph fastball, an effective changeup and an even slower curveball that kept the Brewers guessing.
The 23-year-old righthander walked four and struck out four before the Brewers ended Anderson’s try in the seventh. Daniel Vogelbach blooped a leadoff single to center, and Pablo Reyes followed with a double that chased Anderson.
Reliever A.J. Minter gave up a sacrifice fly to Luis Urías.
Anderson helped the Braves win their fifth straight road game and match their longest road winning streak over the past three seasons. They improved to 19-20 but are still trying to get over .500 for the first time this year.
Milwaukee has lost 10 of its past 13 games and slipped to 20-20 overall.
Freeman hit his 10th homer of the season in the second. William Contreras homered off Hoby Milner leading off the Atlanta eighth.
Travis Shaw was called out on strikes to end the Brewers’ half of fourth. He turned to bark at plate umpire Chris Segal, who listened briefly and then tossed him.
The Braves jumped on a shaky Brett Anderson (2-3) for a 4-0 lead. Ozzie Albies doubled home Freeman, and Dansby Swanson followed with a sacrifice fly in the first.
Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. missed his second consecutive game after injuring his left ankle while trying to beat out a grounder on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Brian Snitker said Acuña has made some progress.
The Braves returned outfielder Guillermo Heredia from his rehab assignment, reinstated him from the 10-day injured list (right hamstring inflammation) and started him in center field.
Infielder Johan Camargo was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett and veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy was signed to a minor league contract a day after catcher Tyler Flowers announced his retirement.