Brewers outhit Braves 19-9, still fall

ATLANTA — As he watched hitter after hitter reach base for the Brewers, manager Brian Snitker felt like his Braves were always behind. Way behind. Instead, the Braves stayed close despite being outhit 19-9 and took advantage of Ozzie Albies’ tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning to beat the Brewers 8-7 on Sunday.

“I’m so proud of the way the guys fought today,” Snitker said. “At one point I felt like we were about eight runs down. There’s a lot of grit in these guys.”

Albies’ homer was one of three hit by the Braves. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Dansby Swanson added two-run shots as the Braves took two of three in a matchup of playoff contenders.

The Brewers had two or more hits in each of the first seven innings.

“It was tough when they keep getting hits but we have to keep fighting through it and that’s what we did today,” Albies said. “We never give up.”

Jesus Aguilar drove in four runs with three hits, including a three-run homer for the Brewers, who left 13 runners on base to only four for the Braves.

“It was a crazy game,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “When you strand 13, you always think you’ve left runs out there.”

The Brewers’ inability to deliver with runners on base reached a peak in the seventh. Facing Jonny Venters (2-1), Ryan Braun hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the inning.

Albies gave the Braves the lead by lining his 21st homer over the left-field wall on a slider from Dan Jennings (4-4) to lead off the seventh.

The Brewers also left the bases loaded in the fourth.

A.J. Minter pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.