Peterson's 11th-inning single lifts Braves past Brewers

Published May. 23, 2015 8:34 p.m. ET

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ATLANTA -- Jace Peterson was much more decisive on his first-pitch swing in the 11th inning than trying to determine if that hit was the highlight of his rookie season.

Peterson's single to left field drove in Alberto Callaspo from third base, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in 11 innings on Saturday.

Peterson hit the first pitch from Brandon Kintzler (0-1) toward the gap in left-center field. Left fielder Ryan Braun and center fielder Carlo Gomez didn't bother to field the ball as Callaspo scored.

Braves players swarmed Peterson near second base.

"It was great," said Peterson, who said teammates covered him with dirt and water. "Probably one of the most fun times I've ever had playing baseball. It was awesome."

Exactly one week earlier, Peterson's first career homer was a grand slam off Mat Latos that powered the Braves to a 5-3 win over Miami. Peterson couldn't say if either was his favorite highlight.

"First home run, first walk-off, they're both awesome," Peterson said.

Peterson had two hits and the Braves improved to 7-2 when the second baseman hits leadoff.

With one out in the 11th, Kintzler walked Callaspo. Andrelton Simmons' sharply hit grounder hit third-base umpire Chad Fairchild and bounced into left field instead of heading toward the left-field corner. Runners advanced to second and third on pinch-hitter Eric Young Jr.'s grounder to Kintzler.

Kintzler's first pitch to Peterson ended the game.

"I don't know how low it was but he went down and got it," Kintzler said.

Luis Avilan (2-0) pitched the last 1 1/3 innings for Atlanta, including getting a double-play with runners at first and third to end the 10th.

Atlanta's Shelby Miller and Milwaukee's Mike Fiers each allowed two runs and seven hits.

The Braves scored two runs in the fifth on doubles by Miller, Cameron Maybin and Freddie Freeman.

Gomez doubled to lead off the game and scored on Braun's single. Martin Maldonado's single drove in Aramis Ramirez in the fourth.

Milwaukee blew a scoring chance in the ninth. Jason Grilli gave a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Jason Rogers. Luis Sardinas singled to right field but was thrown out at first. Simmons took the cutoff throw from Markakis toward third base and quickly threw to first base, where Freeman applied the tag as Sardinas slid back too late.

"It's a great play from Simmons," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "I think it's a play you learn a lot of lessons on."

Milwaukee left-hander Will Smith allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings in his first appearance since being ejected for having a foreign substance on his arm in Thursday's 10-1 loss to the Braves. Smith, appealing his eight-game suspension imposed by Major League Baseball, struck out the side in the eighth.

Counsell said righty Wily Peralta, who left Friday night's win after four innings due to tightness in his left side, should make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Giants.