Adames, Chourio hit home runs to lead Brewers past Braves 8-3

“I feel like when the game is on the line and it’s late, I just buckle down,” Adames said. “I love being in that position. When you’re doing well, everybody loves you. When you’re doing badly, they don’t. But that’s part of the game. What I try to do every time I’m in that position is buckle down and help the team win some games.”

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Adames has been a consistent force throughout the season.

“That boy plays every night and is often very successful,” he said.

Joey Ortiz’s triple in the seventh inning gave Milwaukee a three-run lead and Chourio’s home run, the 20-year-old outfielder’s 12th of the season, gave the Brewers a five-run lead.

“I feel really comfortable and I feel really confident now,” Chourio said. “The hope is that I continue with that confidence.”

Marcell Ozuna hit his 31st home run of the season against Milwaukee starter Colin Rea. The ball flew over a window above the second deck in left field, leading to the game’s first run in the fourth inning. Center fielder Garrett Mitchell caught a potential home run off Eddie Rosario to end the inning.

Orlando Arcia’s solo home run in the fifth inning gave Atlanta, which had lost seven of its last nine games, a two-run lead before Rhys Hoskins’ home run in the final inning off Grant Holmes cut the Braves’ lead to 2-1.

Holmes, a 28-year-old rookie right-hander who spent nearly a decade in the minors before being called up in mid-June, made his first career start. He struck out the side in the first inning and, after allowing consecutive singles to start the second inning, struck out three more. Holmes surrendered three hits and one run in five innings. He struck out eight and walked none.

“I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes and go as far as I could and keep the bullpen out of the game,” Holmes said. “It was such a special moment. I never thought I would ever start for the Atlanta Braves.”

Holmes became emotional as he recounted seeing his father sitting in the stands as he walked to the stadium to warm up for the game.

“I didn’t think he would come, but he came and it meant everything to me,” Holmes said, fighting back tears.

Hoby Milner (4-1) pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief of Rea and earned the win.

Hoskins added another run in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly to extend Milwaukee’s lead, before Sean Murphy hit a solo home run for Atlanta in the ninth inning.

The Brewers placed closer Trevor Megill on the 15-day injured list prior to the game, a day after the return of two-time All-Star Devin Williams, who had been out all season with stress fractures in his back. Milwaukee entered the game with 10 pitchers on the injured list.

Braves: All-Star starting pitcher Reynaldo López, who left Sunday’s game against the New York Mets with a stiff right forearm after throwing three shutout innings, underwent an MRI Sunday night that revealed no problems. López’s status is day-to-day, manager Brian Snitker said.

Neither team has named a starting player for Tuesday night’s match.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb