ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuña Jr. hit yet another leadoff shot and the Braves once again tallied multiple home runs. Either one of these ingredients has often constituted a recipe for success. But the challenge of notching yet another win over the Marlins was enhanced by Max Fried's struggles during a 5-4 loss on Saturday afternoon at SunTrust Park.

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Making his first start since the baseball world lost his close friend Tyler Skaggs, Fried allowed a career-high 11 hits and five earned runs over five innings. The left-hander surrendered solo homers to Harold Ramirez and Starlin Castro through the first three frames. But the crushing blow was delivered when Yadiel Rivera capped a three-run fifth with a decisive two-out, two-run single.

Yeah, the Braves could have issued an intentional walk to bring Marlins starter Caleb Smith to the plate with the bases loaded. But they certainly had reason to attack Rivera, who owns a .173 career batting average. It was just one of those kinds of days for Fried, who worked out with Skaggs during the offseason and regularly texted the Angels pitcher.

“I felt myself getting a little emotional,” Fried said. “But at the end of the day, you just have to compartmentalize it and be able to calm yourself down and get the job done.”

Fried was staked to an early lead with the assistance of solo homers from Acuna and Austin Riley over the first two innings against Smith, who was making his first appearance since missing a month because of left hip inflammation. It appeared to be business as usual for the Braves, who have tallied 142 home runs, besting the previous franchise-high total the 2003 team set with 140 taters before the All-Star break (in three fewer games).

But the potent Braves offense was blanked after Josh Donaldson was thrown out attempting to score from first base on a Nick Markakis third-inning RBI double that provided a 4-2 lead. Ozzie Albies tallied his third double in the eighth, but his inability to get a good read on Freddie Freeman’s line drive single to center prevented him from scoring the tying run. Donaldson killed the threat when he grounded into a double play.

“That’s an easy read from up top,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “When I was sitting in the dugout, it probably wasn’t as easy as if I was sitting in the stands behind the plate. It’s a harder read than what you think.”

As the Braves took just their second loss in 11 games against the Marlins, they fell to 34-13 when hitting at least two home runs. The most interesting element of this stat might be that Atlanta has already produced 47 multi-homer games, matching its 2018 total.

The Braves have hit a National League-high 90 home runs dating back to Riley’s Major League debut on May 15. The 22-year-old’s second-inning solo shot off Smith was his 16th homer. This stands as the sixth-highest total through the first 48 games of an MLB career.

The only players to hit more within this span are Gary Sanchez (19), Rhys Hoskins (18), Wally Berger (18), Cody Bellinger (18) and Jose Abreu (17).

“A home run is an exciting thing,” Riley said. “Fans like it, and we like it.”

Fans have certainly appreciated the quick-strike energy Acuna has generated while tallying 13 career leadoff home runs, despite serving as the Braves' leadoff hitter just 118 times. This already ranks second in franchise history, trailing only the 17 hit by Felipe Alou.

No other Major Leaguer entered Saturday with more than nine leadoff homers dating back to last July 20, when the All-Star outfielder first appeared atop Atlanta’s lineup.

“He’s ready to attack,” Snitker said. “It’s nice when you get one pitch and you’re up 1-0 in a game.”

Acuna gave Fried an early lead when he jumped on Smith’s first-pitch fastball and sent it over the center-field wall. He has tallied five leadoff home runs while sitting at the top of the Braves’ lineup in just 17 games against the Marlins. No other player has totaled more than three leadoff homers versus Miami.

This marked just the fourth time the Braves have ever lost when getting a leadoff homer from Acuna.

“It’s unbelievable,” Fried said. “He changes the game.”