NORFOLK, Va. -- Tuesday night, 21-year-old right-hander Julio Teheran put together a performance that may signal the end of his rough road this season, as Gwinnett defeated Norfolk 3-1. He worked 8.0 strong innings leading the G-Braves to a win over the Tides at Harbor Park. It’s hasn’t been an easy season for Atlanta’s top prospect, but he showed signs of his dominance Tuesday.
Teheran (W, 7-7) allowed just five hits and one earned, as he walked none and struck out a season-high nine. Teheran was aided by Dusty Hughes who worked 0.2 innings in the bottom of the ninth with one strikeout and Andy Russell (S, 1) who recorded the final out and save with a strikeout of Bill Hall.
The G-Braves got Teheran a lead in the very first inning. Jose Constanza, playing in his first game in a week, led off the game with a single against Tides’ starter Jason Berken. Luis Durango bunted Constanza to second, and a wild pitch moved him to third. Stefan Gartrell walked, and Josh Kroeger continued his hot hitting with a single to right, scoring Constanza from third for a 1-0 Gwinnett lead. Ruben Gotay walked to load the bases and Jose Yepez followed with a single to right, plating Gartrell from third and upping the lead to 2-0.
The Tides only run of the night came in the bottom of the second. Teheran, after striking out the first two batters of the inning, gave up a double to left-center by Luis Exposito, then a run-scoring single to center by Blake Davis, cutting the Gwinnett lead to 2-1.
The G-Braves got the run back in the top of the fourth as Gotay led off with a single and moved to third on a single to right by Yepez. Josh Wilson then singled to center scoring Gotay, pushing the lead to 3-1. From there, Teheran and the bullpen kept the Tides offense at bay, as Norfolk had only two hits the rest of the way.
Berken (L, 4-5) worked 5.0 innings for the loss and allowed seven hits, while he surrendered three earned runs, walked two and struck out six. Pat Egan pitched 3.0 innings of scoreless relief with one hit and two strikeouts. Pedro Viola worked a scoreless top of the ninth with one walk.
At the plate, two Gwinnett hitters recorded a multi-hit evening, as Constanza was 2-for-5 and Yepez was 2-for-4.
Exposito had the only extra-base hit of the game with his second-inning double, as he finished 1-for-3.
The Gwinnett Braves (57-68) and Norfolk Tides (62-63) play game two of their four-game series at Harbor Park Wednesday night. Right-hander Jair Jurrjens (3-4, 4.83) will start for the G-Braves against Norfolk right-hander Zach Clark (3-1, 1.33) with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Listen to the broadcast on AM 550/FM 102.9 WDUN in Gainesville with Tony Schiavone calling the play by play.
