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Peterson's grand slam leads Braves over Marlins

May 16, 2015 - 10:06 PM Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jace Peterson's first major league home run was a grand slam, and it was the difference in the Atlanta Braves' 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins.

In addition to Peterson's big swing, Todd Cunningham and Cameron Maybin provided three hits apiece for Atlanta, which will be going for a series sweep on Sunday.

Alex Wood (2-2) allowed two runs -- one earned -- in seven innings, and Jason Grilli recorded his 11th save despite allowing the tying run to reach base in the ninth.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his third home run of the series for Miami, but it was not nearly enough to overcome the struggles of Mat Latos (1-4), who allowed five runs in three-plus frames before exiting with a shin injury.

Before Peterson's grand slam in the second inning, the Marlins loaded the bases themselves in their first at-bat, but Ichiro Suzuki's groundout ended the threat.

Atlanta already had one run in on A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single when Peterson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Latos and sent it over the wall in right field to extend the lead to 5-0.

"We needed that," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez. "We didn't do much the rest of the day."

The Marlins got an unearned run back in the bottom half of the inning, when J.T. Realmuto reached on an error to open the frame and eventually scored on Dee Gordon's groundout. An inning later, Stanton's 11th home run of the season cut Miami's deficit to 5-2.

Miami lost its struggling starter in the fourth inning. With a runner already on base, Maybin lined the ball off Latos' leg, knocking him out of the game and reaching on an inning single.

Tom Koehler came on to strike out Wood and Peterson, and after allowing Phil Gosselin's infield hit to load the bases, he struck out Freddie Freeman to keep the Marlins within three.

The Marlins again squandered a bases-loaded opportunity in the sixth. With one out, Adeiny Hechavarria popped out before Donovan Solano flew out to center field to leave Miami still down by three.

"They got a big hit, and we got some opportunities to get a big hit," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "We haven't been able to get it."

After Koehler got out of Latos' jam, Miami's bullpen cruised to keep the game in reach. Only two Braves' runners reached scoring position against a trio of Marlins relievers, and Atlanta never had two reach base in the same inning.

Hechavarria greeted Grilli in the ninth with a leadoff double and scored on Gordon's one-out single. Martin Prado then struck out to set up a showdown between Grilli and Stanton, which the pitcher won by inducing a game-ending flyout.

Game Notes

Latos has allowed 15 runs -- 14 earned -- in 7 2/3 innings against Atlanta this season ... Deposed Marlins closer Steve Cishek threw two scoreless innings ... Miami Dolphins' first-round pick, wide receiver DeVante Parker, threw out the ceremonial first pitch ... Miami's Henderson Alvarez returns from the disabled list Sunday to take on Atlanta's Shelby Miller.