Freddy Peralta threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings after allowing a homer to open the game and veteran Josh Donaldson belted his first home run with Milwaukee to pace the Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

Peralta (12-8) gave up just a second-inning single after the leadoff homer by Luis Arraez to improve to 6-0 over his last nine starts. Peralta, who did not walk a batter, struck out Josh Bell to end the sixth inning, giving him nine for the game and 200 for the season.

Donaldson, signed Aug. 31 and promoted Monday after being released by the Yankees, put Milwaukee up 2-1 with his 11th homer of the season, a 426-foot solo shot to left with one out in the fourth off Edward Cabrera (6-7).

Milwaukee added a run in the seventh when Andruw Monasterio doubled to open the inning, took third on Tyrone Taylor's single and came home on William Contreras' sacrifice fly.

Hoby Milner retired four straight hitters, Abner Uribe got the final out in the eighth and Devin Williams finished with a perfect ninth for his 33rd save in 37 opportunities.

Milwaukee (81-63) moved 18 games above .500 for the first time this season. The Brewers now lead the National League Central by four games over the Chicago Cubs, who lost 6-4 to Colorado on Tuesday.

Miami (74-71) is 1 1/2 games behind Arizona for the third and final NL wild-card spot.

After the Marlins were blanked 12-0 in the series opener on a complete-game shutout by Brandon Woodruff, Arraez immediately got Miami on the board, opening the game with his seventh homer.

Milwaukee tied it in the second but squandered an opportunity for a big inning. After JT Chargois tossed a scoreless first, Cabrera came on and walked the first three batters he faced. Brice Turang struck out, but Monasterio walked to force in a run. However, Cabrera escaped by getting Taylor on a popout and Sal Frelick on a softly hit comebacker.

Brewers left fielder Mark Canha was removed in the third inning with left wrist soreness, the team announced.

--Field Level Media