Braves 5, Marlins 3
MIAMI -- Second baseman Jace Peterson hit a grand slam for his first career home run, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Marlins Park.
Peterson became the first Braves player in 14 years to make his initial big-league homer a grand slam. The last Atlanta player to do it was Marcus Giles on May 15, 2001.
Braves closer Jason Grilli earned his 12th save, but not before he gave up an RBI single to Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon in the bottom of the ninth.
Atlanta (17-19) is 5-0 this season at Marlins Park and 12-19 in all other games.
Braves starter Alex Wood (2-2) got his second win against Miami this season, although he did give up a mammoth home run to Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton that was measured at 478 feet.
The drive was caught by a fan -- with his bare right hand -- in the center-field bleachers.
Wood lasted seven innings, allowing seven hits, two walks and two runs, one earned. He worked his way out of bases-loaded jams in the first inning (two outs) and the sixth (one out), and did not allow a run in either situation. Wood allowed at least one hit in five of his seven innings.
Miami (16-21) has lost five of its last six games.
Marlins starter Mat Latos (1-4) left the game after three innings, allowing eight hits and five runs. He was removed due in part to a left-shin contusion after being hit by a line drive off the bat of center fielder Cameron Maybin.
Latos is 0-3 against the Braves this season.
Atlanta took a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit a leadoff double and scored on catcher A.J. Pierzynski's single. The Braves got two more hits, loading the bases with one out for Peterson, who slammed Latos' first pitch over the right-field fence.
Miami scored an unearned run in the second. After Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman mishandled a ground ball hit by catcher J.T. Realmuto, the Marlins got an RBI groundout by second baseman Dee Gordon.
In the third, Stanton hit his huge home run, closing the Marlins' deficit to 5-2. It was his 11th home run of the season and his third solo shot in two games. The combined distance on the three home runs is 1,352 feet.
Stanton nearly hit another solo home run in the seventh, but Maybin caught the drive as he crashed into the center-field fence, 418 feet from home plate.
NOTES: Two slumping Marlins were given the day off -- LF Christian Yelich and 1B Michael Morse. Miami started LF Ichiro Suzuki and 1B Jeff Baker. ... Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder inflammation) will come off the disabled list to make Sunday's start against Atlanta. Miami will move RHP Tom Koehler to the bullpen. ... Atlanta will start RHP Shelby Miller (4-1, 1.60 ERA) in Sunday's series finale. Miller is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in two starts against Miami this season. ... Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton has 14 career multi-homer games, including one on Friday. ... Marlins RHP Jarred Cosart (hamstring) threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is expected to make his start Tuesday as scheduled. ... RHP Matt Wisler, rated Atlanta's top pitching prospect, is the Pitcher of the Week in the Triple A International League, going 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts.