Martin Perez pitched five scoreless innings and Ozzie Albies homered to help the Atlanta Braves defeat the visiting Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Tuesday in the opener of a three-series between division-leading clubs.

The journeyman left-hander (2-1) allowed two hits and four walks, striking out five. It was his first win over the Tigers since Aug. 25, 2019.

Atlanta’s nine-hit attack was led by Mike Yastrzemski, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Yastrzemski had been struggling, going 2-for-20 with six strikeouts of the previous six games.

Albies added a two-run homer, his sixth, in the eighth inning off reliever Tyler Holton to provide some insurance.

Didier Fuentes, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday when Dylan Lee went on the paternity list, followed Perez with two scoreless innings. Tyler Kinley allowed two hits but struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning. Aaron Bummer allowed a two-run homer to Wenceel Perez in the ninth.

Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle reached on an infield single in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, but Spencer Torkelson went 0-for-3, ending his franchise-tying streak of five consecutive games with a home run.

Atlanta scored twice in the third when Yastrzemski and Ronald Acuna Jr. hit back-to-back doubles. Acuna went to third base on Drake Baldwin’s infield out and scored on Matt Olson’s sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

Detroit starter Casey Mize had to leave the game with right groin tightness after the Baldwin grounder. Mize fielded the ball and made an underhand toss to get the out, but grimaced as his momentum carried him into foul territory. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch and the team trainer examined Mize, who was immediately removed from the game.

Mize (2-2) worked 2 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits and one walk, with three strikeouts.

The Braves upped their lead to 3-0 with a run in the seventh inning against reliever Burch Smith. Mauricio Dubon doubled and scored when Yastzemski lined a single that just got over the glove of leaping second baseman Gleyber Torres.

–Field Level Media