The way things are going for the Milwaukee Brewers this season, even Friday's 11-0 victory came at a cost.
Right-hander Wily Peralta exited Milwaukee's most lopsided win since September 2010 after just five innings with what was announced as left side tightness.
"I think it was precautionary on my part, more than anything," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We'll know more tomorrow, but I think he's in pretty good shape."
After playing a part in Milwaukee's seven-run top of the fourth inning, Peralta pulled up unusually after bouncing a 1-2 slider to Braves third baseman Alberto Callaspo. Brewers head athletic trainer Dan Wright and Counsell came out to check on the right-hander, but Peralta stayed in the game to retire Callaspo and Andrelton Simmons finish the bottom of the fourth.
Peralta was then pinch-hit for by fellow starting pitcher Kyle Lohse with the Brewers up 9-0.
"After that first batter, there was a pitch that he made," Counsell said. "Then he made maybe three more and then we went out there."
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fourth, Peralta laid off three consecutive balls to draw a walk to force in a run. The Brewers went on to score six more runs in the inning, including one on an infield single by Luis Sardinas that required Peralta beating Simmons' throw to second.
"It was probably the moment of the game," Counsell said of Peralta's two-out walk in the fourth. "We put together a two-out rally and seven straight guys got on base. His at-bat was a big part of it. He was 1-2 and made him work. It was a huge part of the inning."
Michael Blazek tossed three scoreless innings in relief of Peralta to earn the win, while Corey Knebel and Neal Cotts completed the combined three-hit shutout of the Braves.
"You get three innings from a reliever, it is important," Counsell said. "You don't see it that much, really. He was able to just be efficient with his pitches and give us three innings to set our bullpen up where everyone is available tomorrow except for him."
Peralta entered Friday at 1-5 with a 4.32 ERA in eight starts. Before leaving injured, the 26-year-old appeared on his way to a bounce-back outing after allowing five runs in five innings in a loss to the Mets last Sunday.
He got out of trouble in the first inning by striking out Todd Cunningham with a pair of runners on and pitched around two walks in the third by getting Nick Markakis to ground into a fielder's choice.
His next turn in the rotation is scheduled for Wednesday at Miller Park, against the San Francisco Giants.
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