ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves couldn't quite lasso a sweep of the reigning World Series champions.
Andrew Knizner hit a three-run homer, Adolis García added a two-run shot, and the Texas Rangers avoided leaving Truist Park without a win with a 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.
Atlanta won 8-3 on Friday to open the weekend series, an interleague matchup of division leaders, then won 5-2 on Saturday to stretch its streak to six games. The Braves (14-6), the six-time reigning champions in the National League East and atop the division standings with one-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies, had returned home after sweeping a three-game series against the Houston Astros.
American League West leader Texas (12-11) has a half-game lead over the Seattle Mariners.
Evan Carter also went deep as the Rangers erased an early 3-0 deficit, and right-hander Michael Lorenzen (2-0) recovered from a rocky start on the mound, giving up three runs and three hits with seven strikeouts in six innings.
David Robertson worked 1 2/3 innings in relief, and Kirby Yates, who was with the Braves the past two years, got four outs for his third save for Texas.
Atlanta's .290 batting average leads Major League Baseball this year, and the Braves' 121 runs scored trail only the Arizona Diamondbacks (126).
"The homer was great to get us ahead, but with that lineup over there, it's all about pitching and executing pitches the rest of the game," Knizner said. "Lorenzen, Robertson and Yates just did an outstanding job. Those are the guys that held it down for us."
Marcell Ozuna launched his MLB-leading ninth homer for the Braves, a three-run shot off Lorenzen in the first inning.
Atlanta rookie Darius Vines (1-1) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out six and walking two. He was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after the game.
Carter's solo shot in the fourth and Knizner's drive later in the inning gave Texas a 4-3 lead. García connected off Tyler Matzek in the eighth to make it 6-3.
Helped by García's error in right field when he dropped a fly ball, the Braves got a run back in the bottom half on Austin Riley's RBI single. Atlanta had two runners on with nobody out, but Robertson struck out Matt Olson and retired Ozuna on a popup. Yates entered and struck out Orlando Arcia to end the inning.
"Robertson, what a job he did with some of the stuff going on out there," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "He bowed his neck and there were some pretty good hitters he had to go through. ... I can't say enough about how he kept his poise."
Carter also had an infield single and made two diving catches in left field.
Knizner, a backup catcher, entered the game 1-for-16 this season but finished with two hits. His three-run homer to right followed singles by Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Smith.
Ozuna homered with two outs in the first. From there, Lorenzen dominated the potent lineup, giving up just one hit over the next five innings as the Rangers rallied.
Atlanta reserve catcher Chadwick Tromp threw out two runners trying to steal. Tromp got the start as Travis d'Arnaud, who hit three homers Friday and another on Saturday, rested before pinch-hitting in the ninth and flying out to center for the second out.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said regular starting catcher Sean Murphy has been ramping up his fielding activities but has not been cleared to hit as he recovers from the oblique injury sustained during the season opener.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies has been doing light fielding drills while recovering from his broken toe.
Atlanta's nine-game homestand continues with three against the Miami Marlins, a divsion opponent.
The Braves will call up right-hander Bryce Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett to make his first MLB start of the season in Monday night's opener, when the Marlins will send out lefty Ryan Weathers (2-1, 2.70 ERA).
Elder made 31 starts last year and was 12-4 with a 3.81 ERA. He was selected to the NL All-Star team, but he struggled in the second half and got hit hard in his lone playoff appearance against the Phillies.