The Atlanta Braves’ late rally not enough after Teheran gives up seven runs

The Atlanta Braves found themselves in another deep deficit after Teheran allowed seven runs even with Markakis’ 3 RBIs and Albies’ 4-hit day

With Julio Teheran on the mound, the Atlanta Braves were looking to bounce back with a win after a 15-inning loss where the Braves had the lead coming into the 9th.  Prior to the game, the Braves optioned Preston Tucker to call up Lucas Sims a fresh arm. Teheran again had a rough first inning, a trend for many of the starters this season before they settled down.

Teheran allowed the Orioles to gather four early runs on a grand slam from Mark Trumbo before recording a single out.  But Baltimore had Dylan Bundy take pitching duties and he was unable to have a shutdown 1st frame either.

The Braves tagged Bundy for a run – not 4, but it was a start. After lead-off hits from Ender Inciarte and Ozzie Albies, Nick Markakis knocked one to left center for a RBI hit.

Teheran settled in after the 1st and retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced including striking out four straight. He faltered again in the 5th inning starting with three back-to-back hits from Bundy, Colby Rasmus and Adam Jones.

Two outs later, Chris Davis hit a bases-clearing double to give the Orioles a 7-1 lead. That would be it for Teheran as Luke Jackson came in to get the final out with one pitch.

The final line for Teheran was 4.2 innings pitched with six strikeouts but seven earned runs.

Albies helped the team a bit with a single to center to score Ryan Flaherty after he got on with a single.  A walk to Dansby Swanson has placed Flaherty in scoring position.

Rally Time

The game entered a rain delay in the bottom 7th inning shortly after one out. This helped the Braves because it eventually ended Bundy’s day.

With him out of the game, a rally ensued. With one out, Inciarte and Albies kicked it off with back-to-back singles. Freddie Freeman drew a walk to load the bases for Markakis and he came in clutch with a deep double. That scored two runs, but was all Braves got that inning.

They got a bit closer the next inning after Charlie Culberson, who’s been very good lately, got a single. Albies reached with an infield single and later advanced to second after an pick-off throw error. Culberson scored on that to make it 7-5.

That would be it for Atlanta as Zach Britton came in and shut the offense down (a stark contrast from last night). That’s two losses to statically the worst team in MLB – now tied with the Kansas City Royals. The Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals have been in a series together and that helps the Braves a bit but the Phillies have won two and are inching closer to Atlanta.

Arodys Vizcaino was once again not available for the game but the bullpen managed to stop the bleeding as Luke Jackson, Sam Freeman and Peter Moylan had shutout outings. Jackson did give up a triple to Manny Machado in the 7th but that was it. Possibly undisputedly, three of the  poorest-performing relievers in the Braves pen… yet they did well today.

Next: Where The Braves Can Look For Some Help

The Braves hope to avoid a sweep tomorrow as Brandon McCarthy is expected to start against David Hess at 1:35 PM.