Julio Teheran’s pitching line for his 200th career start didn’t look that bad on Tuesday night.
He worked seven innings, his longest outing in seven starts. He struck out eight, his season high. He allowed only five hits and walked only one batter, both highly acceptable figures.
But the good news stops there. Three of those hits left the yard and that two-out walk came around to score, which led to the Braves’ 4-3 loss to San Diego and snapped their modest winning streak at two games.
Teheran (2-4) had trouble with two batters in the Padres’ lineup -- burly right fielder Franmil Reyes and veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer – and dropped his third straight decision.
“He didn’t have an answer for (Reyes),” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Other than one guy, Julio did a good job. He kept the game manageable, made some good pitches.”
Reyes hit a pair of home runs – one into the left-field stands in the first inning and a second into the right-field stands in the sixth. Reyes, who was 3-for-4, also doubled in Greg Garcia, who reached on a two-out walk and advanced on a wild pitch in the third inning.
“One guy hurt him,” Snitker said. “He’s a big strong guy and he was obviously seeing Julio pretty well.”
It was the second time this season and the third time in his career that Reyes has hit multiple home runs in a game.
Teheran said, “Sometimes you’ve got one guy who is difficult and he was one of those guys today.”
Hosmer had two hits and hammered a long solo homer, his fifth, well past the wall in center field.
Teheran has allowed eight homers this season. Of the 23 runs he has allowed, 11 (48 percent) have come on home runs.
The Braves’ bats could do little with San Diego rookie starter Chris Paddack (2-1), who allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Paddack retired the first four Braves he faced – and the last 23 over two games -- before Nick Markakis singled
“That kid on the other side was pretty good,” Snitker said. “He’s got a good assortment, commands pitches, got a go-to pitch that’s tough. That changeup is something else and he’s got a little more velocity than I saw on tape.”
Atlanta’s only runs against Paddack came in the second inning. Markakis and Johan Camargo had back-to-back singles and advanced on a balk. Matt Joyce, getting only his third start of the season, beat the shift with a single to left field to drive in two runs.
The Braves had chances in the seventh inning against reliever Trey Wingenter, but stranded runners at first and second.
Atlanta struck for a run in the eighth against Craig Stammen. Dansby Swanson doubled and scored on Ronald Acuna’s single to center.
There was a final rally effort in the ninth against closer Kirby Yates. Brian McCann led off with a single, but pinch-runner Charlie Culberson was thrown out trying to steal for the second out.
“I was going to run him 3-and-2,” Snitker said. “But he saw something and thought he could sneak the bag in. That kid (catcher Francisco Mejia) has got a heckuva arm, too.”
Pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers struck out to end the game and Yates had his league-leading 14th save.
