Julio Teheran K’s 5 but Braves Fall
By Jeff Schafer
When I first saw Julio Teheran would get the start Friday against the Washington Nationals I thought “great, a worthy test to show what he’s made of and if he can rightfully earn a starting spot in Atlanta’s rotation.” Then the Nationals posted their lineup with only a few of their regulars starting. Even with most of the Washington team not making the trip, it was still good to gauge Teheran’s second start of the 2013 season.
June 10, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (27) pitches in the first inning of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Julio’s first start of spring training came against the Pittsburg Pirates last Sunday. He went the usual innings amount alluded to pitchers first outings, two innings. Teheran did not give up any runs nor did he let the Pirates have a hit on the box score. With having two strikeouts in his short appearance, his only flaws came he walked Russell Martin and hit Gaby Sanchez with a pitch.
Now up against the Braves divisional foe, Teheran needed to show Fredi Gonzalez and Braves Country that he belonged. And I believe he did just that…except for one pitch and a little bit of wind.
Late Friday afternoon Teheran went three innings and recorded five strikeouts. The 22-year-old Braves top prospect displayed another solid outing but threw one mistake pitch to Bryce Harper, last year’s MLB top prospect. Harper took a pitch to the opposite field in the grass area at Champion Stadium. Supposedly, reported by Mark Bowman, the wind was blowing out in that direction and could have influenced the home run. Still this is not something Braves fans want to read after a year of struggles as well as giving up 18 home runs in AAA.
Julio Teheran’s next start comes against a team Tim Hudson has already faced twice this spring and the defending ALCS champions, the Detroit Tigers on Thursday March 7th.
Some good came out of another defeat, Jason Heyward hit his third home run of the spring and he also had a bunt single that he claims he will do more often this year. B.J. Upton ripped a line drive to left field that scored two. And Joey Terdoslavich had another great game with adding two more hits this spring.
The ugly, Dan Uggla had four strikeouts on Friday and now has 10K’s in 16 at bats. Cory Rasmus, after throwing two scoreless innings previously in 2013, couldn’t work himself out of the 8th inning and allowed five runs on four hits and two walks.
The Atlanta Braves are back on the field Saturday at 1:05pm ET versus the newest member of the American League, the Houston Astros. Kris Medlen will be on the mound for the Braves.