Braves second baseman Jace Peterson was mired in a 13-for-85 slump (.153) spanning 22 games when he came to bat with the bases loaded in the fourth inning Monday against the Dodgers. There is no better slump remedy for Peterson than batting with the bases loaded.
He hit Brandon Beachy’s first-pitch change-up the other way to shallow left field, just inside the line, for a two-run double that continued Peterson’s stunning success with bases loaded in his first full major league season. The double made him 9-for-14 (.643) with bases loaded, with three doubles, a triple, a home run, a sacrifice fly and 22 RBIs.
Peterson added an RBI single in the sixth inning for a three-RBI game in a 7-5 Braves win.
“Jace has been unbelievable with the bases loaded this year — I wish he could hit every time with the bases loaded,” said Braves veteran Nick Markakis, who was 0-for-7 with bases loaded.
Peterson’s nine hits and 22 bases-loaded RBI were the most in the majors, as was the average among those with at least 10 bases-loaded at-bats before Tuesday.
“I’ll take it,” Peterson said, when informed of his bases-loaded statistics. “For me, with bases loaded sometimes one of two things is going to happen: They’re either going to start you off with something that’s just a total chase pitch, or they’re going to try to sneak one by you and get ahead. And fortunately he threw me a changeup. I was kind of sitting changeup, but was more ready not to be late with the fastball. Fortunately I sat on it just long enough to squeeze it in there.
“I like hitting with people on base. I don’t (get to) when I’m leading off hitting in the leadoff spot. That’s fine with me, but I prefer hitting with people on base. I like that more.”
It shows. Entering Tuesday, Peterson was batting .252 overall with a .330 OBP and .353 slugging percentage in 317 at-bats. With nobody on base, had a slash line of .226/.291/.295 in 217 at-bats. With runners on, that shot up to .310/.405/.480 in 100 at-bats. And with runners in scoring position, it was .313/.410/.552 in 67 at-bats.
“I definitely prefer to have people on base,” Peterson said. “I feel like, honestly, with people on base I try less, just knowing that a good swing gets it done. Rather than, when there’s nobody on base and you’re trying to get on base and start something. For me, I think that’s kind of the battle, and hopefully I can stick to that.”
