Teheran dominates
Braves pitcher strikes out nine in 2-1 victory over Phillies
ATLANTA — Julio Teheran outpitched Aaron Nola for a rare night of success at SunTrust Park and the Atlanta Braves snapped the Philadelphia Phillies’ six-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory Monday night.
Teheran (1-1) allowed one run, five hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in six innings. He began the night 3-10 with a 6.20 ERA and 21 homers allowed in 19 starts at the Braves’ second-year stadium, but Teheran kept the Phillies guessing with a tough slider.
After setup man A.J. Minter escaped a shaky eighth, Atlanta became the last team in the majors to record a save as closer Arodys Vizcaino retired two of the first three batters he faced and ended it on Carlos Santana’s groundout.
Nola (1-1) gave up four hits, two runs and two walks in six innings. The Phillies’ 24-year-old ace struck out two.
Kurt Suzuki’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scored Ozzie Albies to put the Braves up 2-1. Suzuki hit the ball to shallow center field, where Odubel Herrera pulled up to let strong-armed right fielder Aaron Altherr make the play. Albies’ beat Altherr’s throw with a headfirst slide, and the 5-foot-8 second baseman’s helmet flew off as he dashed past catcher Jorge Alfaro’s tag attempt.
Albies went 2-for-3 and is hitting .426 in 47 at-bats since beginning his first full season 2-for-20.
The Phillies were trying for their first seven-game winning streak since Sept. 5-12, 2012.
Herrera’s first homer of the season made it 1-0 in the first. Atlanta made it 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning when Ender Inciate walked, stole second, advanced to third on Albies’ single and scored on a double-play grounder by Freddie Freeman.
Teheran stranded a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth and sixth innings with a strikeout each. He improved to 9-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 career starts and one relief appearance against Philadelphia.
Timetable unclear for Acuna
Atlanta seems in no hurry for outfielder Ronald Acuna to make his debut. Acuna, rated the No. 2 overall prospect by MLB. com, is hitting .152 with no homers and no RBIs in 33 at-bats at Triple-A Gwinnett. Manager Brian Snitker said he likes what the team has gotten from left fielder Preston Tucker, who began the night hitting .300 with three homers and 12 RBIs, so the 20-year-old Acuna may not get called up during this seven-game homestand.
Trainers room
Phillies: RHP Mark Leiter Jr. threw his first bullpen session since landing on the disabled list March 29 with a right forearm strain. … RHP Pat Neshek, 10 days after taking a cortisone shot to help a right shoulder strain, played catch. … RHP Tommy Hunter will throw a simulated game in extended spring training Tuesday and could be activated in a couple of days.
Braves: C Tyler Flowers, on the DL since March 30 with a left oblique strain, took a day off from hitting, but he did some defensive work. Snitker said Flowers is still a day or two away from taking live batting practice. … 3B Johan Camargo, sidelined since March 13 with a right oblique strain, has homered in three of the last five games with Triple-A Gwinnett, but he’ll stay there at least through this week with 3B Ryan Flaherty leading the NL with a .366 batting average.