MILWAUKEE – Jesus Aguilar hit his 20th home run of the season, and rookie pitcher Freddy Peralta threw six sharp innings as the surging Milwaukee Brewers held off the Atlanta Braves 5-4 Friday night.
Tyler Saladino also homered for the Brewers, who have won five straight to extend their NL Central lead to 2 1/2 games over the second-place Cubs.
After Peralta (4-1) departed, Atlanta rallied for three runs in the seventh off Jacob Barnes. But the Braves’ rally faltered when they failed to score with two runners on and no one out after Dan Jennings replaced Barnes. Atlanta left two on with one out in the eighth against Jeremy Jeffress.
Corey Knebel worked around a one-out single in the ninth for his 11th save. Atlanta has lost a season-high four straight.
Due to injuries, Peralta has gone from a fast-rising prospect into a vital piece of Milwaukee’s rotation. The rookie right-hander allowed one run and three hits, struck out six and walked three.
Aguilar’s towering 433-foot homer to straightway center off Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) capped a five-run rally that put Milwaukee ahead for good.
Foltynewicz, who had allowed five runs over his previous nine starts, allowed that many in the span of six hitters in the third inning.
Saladino’s two-run shot was his first after a five-week stint on the disabled list due to a sprained left ankle. After Peralta struck out and Eric Thames singled, Christian Yelich was hit by a breaking ball on the inside of his left knee.
When Yelich reached first, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman kissed his own hand and playfully massaged Yelich’s left knee.
Yelich and the Brewers felt better moments later when Aguilar homered off Foltynewicz’s 98 mph belt-high fastball, giving Milwaukee a 5-1 lead.
Foltynewicz went six innings, allowing six hits and striking out seven.
On the injury front, Braves left-handed pitcher Max Fried was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Right-hander Evan Phillips was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the spot.
Atlanta rookie outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left in the seventh with left groin tightness after beating out an infield single. He was replaced by Charlie Culberson.