PITTSBURGH—Maybe all it took for Braves second baseman Jace Peterson to break out of a recent slump was a chance to hit with the bases loaded.
Peterson hit a three-run double during the 8-4 loss to the Pirates on Saturday. He’s now 7-for-11 with the bases loaded, including a double, a triple and a home run. With runners on any base, Peterson is 28-for-81 (.346) with five doubles, two triples and two home runs.
“When runners are on, you are trying to get them in,” Peterson said after the game Saturday. “Any time you come up in that situation you try to put a little bit more grit to it, I guess, and try to get the job done.”
Peterson showed more power during Sunday’s series finale. He belted a solo home run to right-center against Pirates reliever Vance Worley for his third homer of the season.
Peterson ended a 0-for-13 skid with a single to lead off the game on Saturday. He had gone hitless with six strikeouts in the three-game series at Washington to drop his season batting average from .284 to .264.
Peterson said the big hit in Saturday’s game could get him back on track.
“I think so,” he said. “In Washington, I struggled. I hit some balls good and didn’t’ get hits. I’ve just got to keep going. That’s part of baseball. You have ups and downs but you’ve got to keep going.”
