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Atlanta Braves: Julio Teheran returns to form to topple Colorado Rockies

By Guy Curtright, The Sports Xchange
Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves held off the Colorado Rockies on Friday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves held off the Colorado Rockies on Friday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

ATLANTA -- A visit from the Colorado Rockies was just what Atlanta Braves right-hander Julio Teheran needed to snap his nine-game home losing streak.

Teheran, who came in with 18 straight scoreless innings against Colorado, allowed just five Rockies to reach base over 7 1/3 innings in a 5-2 Braves victory Friday night.

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Matt Kemp and Kurt Suzuki each belted homers and Teheran (8-11) allowed five hits and two runs while striking out four and walking none as he improved to 5-1 in his career against Colorado.

Teheran won his first start at the Braves' new ballpark, beating San Diego on April 14, but then went winless in his next 12 Atlanta starts while posting a 7.36 ERA and setting a Braves record for consecutive home losses.

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Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis pitched seven scoreless innings against the Braves at Colorado on Aug. 14 in his return from testicular cancer, matching Teheran's outing in that game.

Bettis (0-1) was victimized by early homers from Kemp and Suzuki this time, allowing five runs and six hits over five innings.

Charlie Blackmon, who leads the National League with a .337 average, drove in the Rockies' first run, but had to leave in the eighth inning after tweaking his left leg on a swing.

Mark Reynolds connected in the seventh inning off Teheran for his 27th homer.

The loss was the 12th in the past 17 games for the Rockies, who are 7-24 on the road after a 24-10 start away from Colorado.

Kemp was 3-for-4 with a double in addition to his homer, and Ozzie Albies was 2-for-2 with a double and two walks.

Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save in 10 chances, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Kemp's two-run blast in the first inning was his 15th homer of the season and first since July 25 in Arizona.

Suzuki, also connecting on a first pitch, belted his career-best 15th of the season and 10th since the start of July to lead off a three-run second inning.

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The Rockies had gone 20 consecutive innings without scoring against Teheran until Blackmon delivered an RBI single in the third.

NOTES: 1B Freddie Freeman was 0-for-3 with a walk as his 12-game hitting streak for the Braves came to an end. ... The Braves wore their traditional home whites for the team picture taken before batting practice, then changed into blue pullover shirts and bright red caps as part of MLB's first Players Weekend. ... The Rockies donned lavender caps and players from both teams had nicknames, rather than names, on their backs. ... Saturday's middle game of the series features a rookie rematch from Aug. 15 in Colorado, with LHP Kyle Freeland (11-8, 3.71 ERA) pitching for the Rockies against LHP Sean Newcomb (2-7, 4.13 ERA) ... Rockies INF/OF Ian Desmond (right calf strain) began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque, going 1-for-2 with a double and walk Thursday. He has been on the disabled list since late July.

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