Johnson, Teheran, Braves hand A's 4th loss in row

Monday, August 18, 2014

photo Wearing a 1914 throwback uniform to commemorate the World Series-winning Boston Braves, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran delivers to the Oakland Athletics during their game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Atlanta.

ATLANTA - Chris Johnson drove in two runs with three hits, Julio Teheran threw six strong innings and the Atlanta Braves edged the suddenly struggling Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Saturday night.

The A's, who began the day with the best record in the major leagues, have matched their worst skid of the season by losing four games in a row. They've dropped six of seven overall.

Teheran (11-9) gave up two runs on four hits and three walks. The Braves had lost 12 of 15 before winning the first two games of the series. They remain six games behind National League East leader Washington, which rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Craig Kimbrel got his 36th save in 40 chances.

Sonny Gray (12-7) allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings in his fourth straight defeat.

There was a brief delay in the bottom of the sixth when a nude man ran onto the field. He was quickly tackled by security officers and taken off the field.

Stephen Vogt hit a two-run homer and John Jaso also homered for Oakland. The A's also lost four straight in late May.

The teams wore throwback uniforms as Atlanta celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1914 Boston Braves' World Series win over the Philadelphia A's.

Atlanta closed it out after Josh Reddick led off the A's ninth with a long fly ball that Justin Upton caught at the left-field wall.

Freddie Freeman hit an RBI double and scored on Johnson's single to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Upton led off the fourth with a single and scored on Andrelton Simmons' two-out, bloop single to left field for a 3-0 lead.

Upton walked to lead off Atlanta's sixth and scored from first on Johnson's third hit, a hit-and-run single to left-center.

Jaso's homer off Jordan Walden in the eighth cut the lead to one run.

Simmons, who did not play Friday night when he had a headache after having two teeth extracted, was back in the lineup. Phil Gosselin, who hit his first homer Friday night while filling in for Simmons, started at second base and had two hits.

Braves relief pitcher Shae Simmons (strained right shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Gwinnett.