Martin Prado drove in three and Tommy Hanson pitched six solid innings as the Braves won the first game of the doubleheader, 8-3.
Craig Counsell started the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single for the Brewers, but the Braves answered in the third with two runs on RBI singles by Prado and Brian McCann.
After Prince Fielder tied the game at two in the fourth on a solo homer, the Braves again answered with two runs in the home half of the fourth on a two-run single by Prado for a 4-2 lead. They broke things open in the sixth with four runs on a wild pitch that scored a run, a two-run single by Chipper Jones and a sac fly RBI by McCann.
The Brewers added a run in the eighth when Rickie Weeks tripled and Nyjer Morgan grounded out to bring him home.
Prado went 3-5 with three singles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Chipper and McCann added two RBIs each. Nate McLouth went 2-3 with a double, walk and two runs scored. Jason Heyward went 1-3 with a double and walk. Freddie Freeman added two singles.
Tommy Hanson went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. The lone extra base hit allowed was the home run to Fielder, but otherwise he pitched well, commanding his slider very well and his fastball for the most part. It's another solid strikeout total for Hanson, also, which is always good to see.
Eric O'Flaherty pitched a scoreless seventh. Scott Linebrink allowed the Milwaukee run in the eighth. Cory Gearrin pitched a scoreless ninth.
Marco Estrada struggled in the later innings of his outing, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings, walking three and striking out five. The Brewers tried to stretch him to six full innings, but it resulted in four runs allowed in the sixth, three from Estrada. He induced eight groundouts to three flyouts, but he threw 114 pitches and ran out of gas quickly.
Mitch Stetter gave up Estrada's runs and one of his own in the sixth. Sean Green pitched a scoreless seventh. Sergio Mitre pitched a scoreless eighth despite loading the bases.
Fielder, Counsell and Morgan recorded an RBI each for the Brewers. Milwaukee had just five hits and two walks as a team.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans check out Brew Crew Ball.