Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Donaldson, Braves strike back
ATLANTA — One year after he was left out of the Braves’ postseason rotation, Julio Teheran has re-emerged as a reliable leader on a young staff.
Teheran’s roll of superb starts is a big reason the Braves are back in first place in the NL East.
Josh Donaldson drove in the tiebreaking run in Atlanta’s five-run fifth inning to win his rematch with Joe Musgrove, Teheran allowed only one earned run and the Braves beat the Pirates 6-5 on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep.
The Braves have won seven straight to move into the division lead, 11⁄2 games ahead of idle Philadelphia. The Phillies and Braves open a three-game series Friday night.
Teheran (5-4) lowered his ERA to 2.92, a full run lower than last season’s 3.94 mark, when he finished 9-9 and was in the bullpen for the NL division series loss to the Dodgers.
Musgrove (4-7) struck out Donaldson in the first inning. It was their first meeting since Musgrove hit Donaldson with a pitch Monday night, igniting a confrontation that led to both players’ ejections. The short outing gave Musgrove the rare opportunity of making two starts in the same series.
“I was ready to go out and attack him like I normally would,” Musgrove said. “I put that behind me. I can’t go out there with that stuff lingering in the back of my mind.”
Freddie Freeman’s triple in the fifth drove in Dansby Swanson to tie it. Donaldson hit a single to right to drive in Freeman.
Ozzie Albies added a two-run double to center field in the big inning.