ATLANTA (AP) — William Contreras had four hits, including a three-run homer in Milwaukee's eight-run second inning, and the Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 9-4 on Sunday to snap a three-game skid.
Sal Frelick added a two-run double off Bryce Elder (5-5) as the Brewers matched their season high for most runs in an inning. They also scored eight runs in the sixth inning of a 13-2 win over Arizona on April 28.
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Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell (5) celebrates after stealing home during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryce Elder throws the first pitch of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley runs to first on a base hit during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser (54) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras (24) celebrates after batting in three runs during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
After blowing a ninth-inning lead in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Braves, Milwaukee salvaged one win in the three-game series between NL division leaders.
Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser (1-3) earned his first win since May 15, 2024, against Pittsburgh. Gasser allowed two runs and four hits and one walk. His seven strikeouts and six innings matched career highs.
Atlanta's Rowdy Tellez hit a two-run homer off Chad Patrick in the ninth. Mauricio Dubón had three hits for the Braves.
Elder gave up 12 hits and eight runs in six innings. He has allowed a combined 22 hits and 14 runs in his past two starts, including six runs in four innings in an 8-1 loss at the New York Mets on June 14.
The Brewers sent 11 batters to the plate in the second. Contreras opened the inning with a single before adding the homer into the Brewers' bullpen behind the left-field wall.
Brewers: RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 3.60), who landed on the injured list on May 1 with right shoulder inflammation after a drop in velocity, is expected to return to the rotation when Milwaukee opens a series at Cincinnati on Monday night against RHP Brady Singer (3-6, 5.32).
Braves: RHP Grant Holmes (4-3, 4.33) is scheduled to face RHP Michael King (4-6, 3.60) when Atlanta opens a series at San Diego.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell (5) celebrates after stealing home during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryce Elder throws the first pitch of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley runs to first on a base hit during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser (54) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras (24) celebrates after batting in three runs during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Sunday is Father's Day. Except, perhaps, for Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.
The feel-good story of the World Cup was on the field Sunday, when Cape Verde took on Uruguay in the second group-stage match for both teams. And Vozinha — whose name is Josimar José Évora Dias — had his mother in the stands for that match; she was unable to attend Cape Verde's stunning opening draw against Spain because she couldn't obtain a visa.
Ana Candida Evora is here now, though — making Cape Verde's story even better.
“I want to thank all the fans, everyone who helped in the process, for the support you gave to the team, especially to Cabo Verde,” Evora said Sunday in remarks distributed by FIFA in a video message. “We’re all rooting for Cabo Verde to play well, to shine on the pitch. The players need to have faith and everything will go well.
“Keep your heads held high, go onto that pitch, push for a goal and you’ll perform beautifully, my boys. A kiss for you, be strong and brave. Blue Sharks!”
The team is commonly called ‘Tubarões Azuis' in Portuguese, which translates to Blue Sharks.
Evora carried a Cabo Verde flag into the stadium, her son's name and jersey number on the back of her shirt, and she was ushered into a suite to watch the contest. Vozinha heard roars from the fans — even with a mostly pro-Uruguay crowd — whenever he was shown on the video screens during warmups, and got perhaps the loudest ovation of any player when starters were introduced.
Evora's visa issues — primarily raising the money needed for one — were worked out after the U.S. State Department, FIFA, U.S. lawmakers and Cape Verde's soccer federation evidently combined efforts and cleared a path for Evora to come to Miami. She arrived Friday afternoon after more than 24 hours of travel from Cape Verde and was immediately surrounded by FIFA officials and volunteers as she made her way through the airport.
FIFA even hosted her briefly at the organization's tournament headquarters in Florida over the weekend, officials said Sunday.
Vozinha had about 50,000 followers on Instagram as the World Cup was starting. He was up to 15 million followers by game time Sunday after he grabbed the world's sporting attention by leading Cape Verde to a scoreless draw against Spain — one of the pre-tournament favorites to win the title.
That means he gained about 30 followers every second from the end of the Spain match to the start of the one against Uruguay.
He went viral after that match against Spain with tearful comments, wishing that his late grandparents could have seen him play in the World Cup and that his mother's visa issues had been resolved in time to be there. That sparked an immediate effort to find ways for Evora to get to the U.S. for the tournament.
And the tie, combined with a story of a 40-year-old goalie and his mom, brought attention onto Cape Verde's soccer team like never before.
“It’s been intense,” Cape Verde forward Garry Rodrigues said. "But as we are professionals, the game (against) Spain is now in the past. ... We're still human. Seeing everything on the internet has been very intense. But we cannot use that as an excuse. We know our targets. We know our goals.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, left, reacts after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha celebrates as holds the flag of his country after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha waves as he leaves after a team visit to the pitch on the eve of their Group H World Cup match against Uruguay, in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha walks on the pitch during a team visit on the eve of their Group H World Cup match against Uruguay, in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Cape Verde goalkeepers Vozinha, right, and Marcio Rosa walk onto the pitch for a team visit on the eve of their Group H World Cup match against Uruguay, in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
