Bryce Elder took a shutout into the seventh inning upon his recall from the minors and Jarred Kelenic celebrated his homecoming with a homer and double to lead the visiting Atlanta Braves past the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Kelenic, a native of nearby Waukesha, Wis., doubled during a four-run third that put the Braves up 4-0 against Brewers starter Joe Ross, who was activated earlier Tuesday after spending more than two months dealing with a lower back injury.
Kelenic then made it 5-0 in the fourth with his 12th homer. He also walked twice as the Braves evened the three-game series at a game apiece.
Elder (2-4), who was an All-Star last season when he went 12-4 with a 3.81 ERA, allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Elder allowed a walk and single to open the seventh, then exited after striking out Rhys Hoskins. Pinch hitter Gary Sanchez greeted reliever A.J. Minter with an RBI single. Minter then got Joey Ortiz to line out to second, and pinch hitter Andrew Monasterio grounded into an inning-ending forceout.
Elder has split time this season between Atlanta and Triple-A Gwinnett. He entered with a 6.35 ERA in eight big-league starts this season.
The Braves jumped on Ross with one out in the third, getting four consecutive hits. Nacho Alvarez Jr. singled, Kelenic doubled, and Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna followed with RBI singles. Matt Olson walked to load the bases, and Eddie Rosario’s two-out, two-run single put the Braves up 4-0.
Ross (2-5), making his first big league start since May 20, allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings, striking out four and walking two.