When it was over, after Craig Kimbrel struck out Bryce Harper for the final out of a 2-1 victory and another series win over the Nationals, the Braves had restored their commanding NL East lead to a season-high 15-1/2 games and Julio Teheran had done something only seven Atlanta rookie pitchers had done before.
Teheran (10-6) worked out of similar tight spots in each of the first three innings, and the Braves got first-inning RBI singles from Freddie Freeman and Chris Johnson on the way to their 19th win in 22 games and seventh consecutive series win.
“It’s nice. It’s great, actually,” Johnson said of the series win. “It’s not an easy win, I’ll tell you that, against that ballclub over there. (Jayson Werth) is unbelievable right now. He’s absolutely on fire. Great team, great pitching staff. You saw it today. So it’s huge for us to go in and just try to continue what we’ve been doing all year.”
The Braves improved their majors-best records to 76-48 overall and 44-18 at Turner Field by beating the Nationals for the 16th time in the past 20 games, including 12 of 16 this season. They beat left-hander Gio Gonzalez (7-6), who gave up three hits and two runs in the first inning, and only two more hits in the next six innings.
After losing 8-7 in 15 innings Saturday, the Braves rested some regulars and started five backups. Rookie Phil Gosselin played second base in his first start and collected his first two hits, including a bunt single to help fuel the first inning.
Teheran allowed five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six scoreless innings to become the eighth Braves rookie to reach double-digit wins since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966.
“He got himself into some trouble early in the game, but he didn’t panic,” said veteran backup catcher Gerald Laird. “He made pitches and was able to work out of it and keep throwing zeroes up there. It was fun to work with him today, because I didn’t think he had his ‘A’ stuff but he was able to go six innings.”
Laird had a big defensive play when he threw out Jayson Werth trying to steal second with runners on the corners in the seventh inning, completing an inning-ending double play after David Carpenter struck out Adam LaRoche. Werth’s RBI single had cut the lead to 2-1.
The Nationals had two on with none out each of the first three innings, and Teheran retired the next three each time.
“He wiggled out of a lot of jams,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He keeps pitching (when he gets in trouble). That’s a good trait to have. He’s maturing in the right direction.”
Scott Downs was charged with a run in the seventh before Jordan Walden and Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning apiece. Kimbrel struck out three of four batters in the ninth for his National League-leading 39th save and 29th in a row.
Kimbrel gave up a one-out infield single before striking out Anthony Rendon and Harper, the latter going down after trying to check his swing on strike three. Harper was greeted by a chorus of boos every time he came to bat in the series.
“I love these fans. I really do,” Harper said afterward. “These people are absolutely unbelievable for their team. If I was playing for a team like this and had a crowd like that I’d be stoked to play here every night, too. I love playing at Nats Park. We have a great crowd, too. Going to Philly. Going here. Fenway. New York. There are so many great crowds.”
After the Braves swept them in Washington in the first road trip this season, a couple of Nationals players said they believed they (Nationals) had the better team.
After Sunday’s game, Washington center fielder Denard Span was asked if it felt to him as if the Braves were so much better than the Nationals as the standings indicated.
“It does not,” Span said, “but I’m gonna be honest with you, it just seems like they find a way to win. Even last night, we were able to win (7-6 in 15 innings), but they’ve broken our hearts time and time again. I haven’t played against a team like that in a while where they just have our number and you’ve just got to tip your cap off to them.”
The Nationals’ playoff hopes were dealt another blow as they slipped to 9-1/2 games behind Cincinnati, the second-place team in the NL wild card standings.
The Braves’ seven consecutive series wins include two against the Nationals and five against NL East foes, in addition to the Cardinals and Rockies.
“We’ve got to beat teams in our division to keep the lead where we like it,” Braves right fielder Jason Heyward said, “and we’ve also got to keep winning games for home-field advantage.”
The Braves are three games ahead of the surging Dodgers (72-51) for the NL’s best record, which determines home-field advantage through the league championship series.
