Teheran Torched in 5th, Braves Shut Out 8-0

Well, at least the Falcons had a great first day of OTAs according to Dan Quinn.  The Hawks’ magical season comes to an end and the Atlanta Braves get shut out 8-0 by Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight.  In a battle between aces Clayton Kershaw dominated and Julio Teheran struggled.

More from Atlanta Braves

• Atlanta Braves: Felix Has Already Shown Enough to Win a Rotation Spot
• Atlanta Braves Implode Late To Phillies, Cole Hamels Remains Sidelined
• Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
• Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League Play Check Up
• Sean Newcomb’s Up & Down Day Against The Orioles

Kershaw went seven innings, allowing four hits, and striking out ten Braves batters.  His curveball was unhittable as usual.  He has never lost to an NL East team in his illustrious MLB career.  Teheran simply did not have it tonight.  He lasted just 4.1 innings, giving up 10 hits and 8 earned runs, recording just one strikeout.  Julio could not get out of a very rough fifth inning, surrendering six runs.

Eric Stults relieved Teheran marvelously, allowing just one hit in 3.2 innings of work.  This is a step in the right direction for Stults who had a terrible spot start Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.  Stults saved the rest of the Atlanta bullpen tonight.  He even had two plate appearances as a relief pitcher.  When does that ever happen?

Another silver lining for the Braves tonight was the play of Nick Markakis.  Nick went 3-4 tonight with two hits off Clayton Kershaw who was dealing.  Apparently the lefty-lefty matchup was a non-issue for Markakis.  Even in a blowout, you have to like Nick’s approach at the plate tonight.  This guy will record his 2,000th career hit in a Braves uniform in the next few seasons.

This game did not feature a single pinch hitter for either team as rumors about a potential trade between the ball clubs was in the back of Fredi Gonzalez’s and Don Mattingly’s mind.  Serious trade talks between the Braves and Dodgers made for interesting news all day.  The teams are awaiting Commissioner Rob Manfred’s approval before the eminent trade’s confirmation .  That should happen sometime tomorrow morning.

Beating Clayton Kershaw is a feat in and of itself.  Sometimes he needs just one run of support to come away victorious.  The Dodgers gave him eight runs of support and he looked like the best pitcher in baseball tonight.  Let’s hope that Alex Wood pitches better than Teheran later tonight.  Zack Greinke is always tough.  I really hope Freddie Freeman doesn’t wear the Golden Sombrero again against Greinke.  Atlanta needs to win to prevent getting swept by the LA Dodgers.