Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates his game-winning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers as he heads toward the plate in the 10th inning Saturday night in Atlanta. The Braves won 4-3.ATLANTA - Freddie Freeman led off the 10th inning with a home run into the right-field seats, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.
The Braves recovered to win their fourth straight game after Luke Jackson blew a 3-2 lead in the ninth.
Freeman pulled a fastball from Josh Hader (0-3) for his 10th homer of the season. Jacob Webb (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th for Atlanta.
Braves rookie left fielder Austin Riley continued his hot start in his first week in the majors by hitting a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth for a 3-2 lead.
Jackson couldn't protect a 3-2 lead in the ninth. Jackson hit Keston Hiura with a pitch to open the inning. Hiura moved to third base on Orlando Arcia's one-out single to right and scored on Lorenzo Cain's high bouncer over third baseman Josh Donaldson for a 3-3 tie.
Riley's homer off left-hander Alex Claudio gave him eight hits, including two homers, in four games since he was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Riley singled in the second, but he made a rookie mistake when he was fooled by shortstop Hernan Perez, who pretended to field a throw at second on Brian McCann's fly ball to fight field. Riley slid head-first into second before standing to watch right fielder Christian Yelich throw to first base to complete the double play.
The front of Riley's shirt was still covered in dirt when he made up for his mistake with the homer.
After Matt Albers walked Donaldson to open the sixth, Claudio struck out left-handed hitting Nick Markakis. Brewers manager Craig Counsell left Claudio in to face Riley, a right-handed hitter. Counsell took off his cap and paced in the dugout in frustration after Riley's homer reached the right-field seats.
Milwaukee right-hander Chase Anderson came off the injured list to allow one unearned run in four innings in his first start of May. He was placed on the injured list on May 1 due to a blister on his right middle finger. He allowed only two hits with four walks while throwing 76 pitches.
Braves right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed two runs in six innings.
Yelich threw out Markakis at the plate to end the eighth. Markakis was trying to score from second on Ozzie Albies' single.
Donaldson likely will be given a rest Sunday as manager Brian Snitker said he plans to give Riley his first start at third base. Riley made his fourth straight start in left field after pregame fielding drills at third base, his primary position in the minors.
The Braves released left-hander Jonny Venters, whose comeback from his third Tommy John surgery helped him win the NL comeback player of the year in 2018. Venters, 34, had a 17.36 ERA in nine appearances this season. The Braves recalled left-hander Jerry Blevins only four days after he was designated for assignment.