Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

After allowing a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, it was like déjà vu all over for Chris Stratton and the San Francisco Giants.

Stratton, who got just four outs in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon, was able to recover and go five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out six and the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-4 at SunTrust Park.

The win by the Giants stopped the Braves five-game winning streak, who are coming off a three-city, 10-game road trip, where they went 7-3 against the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, who the Braves now lead in the National League East by 1.5 games.

Freddie Freeman gave the Braves a quick 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit a Stratton pitch into the left field seats. Following the Freeman home run, Jose Bautista, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett made a great first impression on the Braves fans, as he doubled in his first at-bat.

Unfortunately for the Braves and their crowd, the Giants put a quick stop to the lead in the top of the second inning.

Gregor Blanco hit a two-run triple, Alen Hanson hit a run-scoring double and then scored on a fielder’s choice, Brandon Belt added a RBI double and finally Evan Longoria drove in the final run of a six-run inning, when he grounded out.

Nick Markakis cut the Giants lead in half in the bottom of the third inning, as his sixth home run of the season.

Brandon Crawford then gave the Giants a five-run in the top of the seventh inning, as he hit his third home run, a two-run blast into the right field seats.

Crawford went three-for-five on the night for the Giants with two runs batted in for the Giants, who have won six out of their last eight.

Ozzie Albies drove in the final run of the game for the Braves, as he hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored Charlie Culberson, who hit a pinch-hit single, while batting for Jesse Biddle, who came in the top of the seventh and surrendered the two-run home run to Crawford.

It was a rough night for Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz, who pitched just five innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four.

Will Smith made his second straight appearance in relief for the Giants, as he went one inning, allowing one run on one hit. Smith, who missed all of the 2017 season after Tommy John surgery, made his season debut on Wednesday afternoon against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.

Longoria closed out the scoring for the Giants in the top of the ninth inning, as he hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season off of Max Fried.

NOTES: Ty Blach takes the mound on Saturday night, as the Giants continue their three-game series in Atlanta. The Braves will send Brandon McCarthy to the mound, as they look to even up the series.

Mark Melancon will throw in the bullpen for the first time this season on Saturday. Melancon is on the disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain. Mac Williamson, who is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion disabled list on Saturday may not be ready, as he suffering from a virus.

This was the largest crowd in SunTrust Park history, as they drew 41,807 in the opener of the three-game series.

UP NEXT: The Giants are on a three-city, 10-game road trip that began on Friday night, then will move to Philadelphia for a four-game set and end after three games in Pittsburgh on May 12.