Solo homers by Martin Prado and Dan Uggla in the eighth inning resulted in a 2-1 Braves win over the Brewers in the series opener.
The Braves had no runs and just four hits through seven innings, due in large part to Brewers starter Chris Narveson's six shutout innings on three hits. Milwaukee led through seven, 1-0, behind a solo home run by Rickie Weeks in the third inning.
With Takashi Saito on the mound for the Brewers, Prado led off the eighth with a home run to left to tie it at one. With two outs, Uggla bounced one off the top of the left field wall to take the one-run lead.
The lead was not possible without Brandon Beachy's strong performance over six innings. He allowed one run - the Weeks homer - on four hits, walking one and striking out seven. Beachy got out of two big jams in his outing, the first coming in the second inning with a runner on third and one out. He got Wil Nieves on a strikeout and Narveson on a flyout. The second jam came in the fourth with two in scoring position and one out, and Beachy again got Nieves on a strikeout, along with Narveson.
Beachy settled down beginning with the fourth inning jam, striking out five of the last eight batters he faced. He ended his day at 88 pitches, inducing five groundouts to three flyouts.
George Sherrill came in to begin the seventh, walking Nyjer Morgan, and Nieves bunted him to second. Peter Moylan relieved Sherrill, getting a groundout to move Morgan to third and striking out Weeks to end the inning. Moylan picked up the first out in the eighth but allowed a single to Ryan Braun with one out. Jonny Venters came in to face left-hander Prince Fielder, getting him to ground into a 5-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth to shut the door.
Prado finished 2-4 with a homer and RBI. Uggla recorded a homer and RBI. The top five hitters in the order reached base with a hit. David Ross added a hit and walk in three plate appearances. Brian McCann pinch hit for Beachy in the seventh and ended up 0-2.
Weeks ended the day 2-4 with a homer and RBI. Yuniesky Betancourt added two hits, including a double. Braun recorded a hit in four trips, while Fielder and Casey McGehee were held hitless.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans check out Brew Crew Ball.