For as many strides as Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb have made this season, Julio Teheran has remained an enigma.
Teheran never reeled it in Tuesday, and his defense wasn’t much help. The usually stout group committed three errors, two of which proved costly, in the Braves’ 9-3 loss on getaway day in Miami.
The third inning of a 2-1 game tipped the scales: Ender Inciarte misplayed Brian Anderson’s single, allowing Derek Dietrich to score. Anderson went on to score on J.T. Realmuto’s lineout to left, morphing the deficit into a greater hill to climb.
“That happens,” manager Brian Snitker said. “You’re going to have days like that. Overall, our defense is going to be there. It’s going to be consistent. We’re a really good defensive team.”
Inciarte, a two-time Gold Glove recipient, made his second error in three games.
Realmuto began Miami’s afternoon with a two-run homer in the first. Johan Camargo hit a solo shot in the next inning to trim the lead in half.
The Braves pulled within a run again in the fifth. Charlie Culberson doubled home Inciarte and Ronald Acuna, putting the Braves as close as they’d get the rest of the afternoon.
The dam broke in the bottom of the frame. Starter Wei-Yin Chen doubled to left-center. And after Teheran hit Anderson, he induced a grounder from Realmuto that didn’t produce an out.
Dansby Swanson, who has ranked among the league’s best defensive shortstops, made a wide throw to home, and Tyler Flowers couldn’t tag Chen. Justin Bour’s RBI single made the score 6-3, and Starlin Castro’s three-run homer put it away.
Miami scored five times in the inning, expanding its lead to 9-3.
Teheran was finished after the Castro at-bat. The five-time opening-day starter pitched 4-1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits. He has posted a 7.61 ERA in his past six outings against the Marlins. I was trying everything I did my last two starts, but it just wasn’t there.”
“It was a little bit of everything,” Teheran said. “I didn’t have my stuff. I was feeling pretty good but I wasn’t at my best.
Since June 4, Teheran has allowed at least four runs in half of his eight starts. He owns a 5.24 ERA across his past 12 outings, allowing 14 homers in that time. He has allowed 20 homers in 20 starts.
The righty’s frustrating up-and-down pace has developed into the norm. His inconsistencies are a reality the Braves have dealt with, while the “potential” tag has almost certainly expired in his sixth full major-league season.
Teheran couldn’t pinpoint reasons for his ups and downs across the past two seasons, but said it isn’t frustrating, he just needs to find a way to piece together a successful string of outings.
“I don’t know,” Snitker said. “He looks healthy, his velocities are fine. Stuff in spurts is really good. But I don’t know.”
But the unusual defensive miscues certainly played a part. For as excellent as the Braves’ defense is, there’ll be ruts, as Snitker would say.
The team made three errors in total, with Camargo charged with one when trying to field an Inciarte throw to third in the sixth. Culberson committed his first error of the season misplaying a Derek Dietrich ball the play before.
The offense didn’t have many chances to make up for it against Chen. Culberson’s double was the only opportunity they had with runners in scoring position. Teheran walked to start the third, but it was squandered when Acuna hit a rocket lineout to short and he was doubled up at first.
“Chen threw a pretty good game,” Flowers said. “He’s been tough on me personally, but it seemed like he was tough on everybody. Getting ahead, we did a decent job working counts, but we just couldn’t hold the offense down.”
While it was a disenchanting encore to Monday’s 12-1 win, the Braves return to SunTrust Park after a 2-2 trip back from the All-Star break.
They’ll get a day off Wednesday, then host the Manny Machado-led Dodgers for four and Miami for three in a lengthy homestand.
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