ATLANTA - Some extra rest left Julio Teheran feeling so strong, he was unhittable for six innings Sunday.
And it's only the latest good news for a rotation steadily gaining momentum.
Teheran pitched six no-hit innings before being pulled from his first start since coming off the disabled list, and Braves relievers gave up six hits while finishing off a 4-1 win over the San Diego Padres.
Teheran's velocity was up, with his fastball hitting 92 mph. The 27-year-old right-hander had been closer to 89 mph before he missed time with a sore thumb, and the boost in his fastball helped his offspeed pitches.
"Those 10 days helped me to get everything on track," Teheran said of his stint on the DL. " It was kind of fun to have my stuff back."
Teheran (5-4) had a season-high 11 strikeouts, walked three batters and threw 95 pitches while recording 15 consecutive outs. Braves manager Brian Snitker said he could immediately see the difference.
"It was just good to see the life on the fastball again," Snitker said.
Teheran's changeup and slider also were effective.
"He was throwing all his pitches for strikes," San Diego infielder Cory Spangenberg said. "I know through three at-bats, I only got one fastball. When a pitcher is doing that, he's pretty tough to hit."
Over the past 11 home games, Atlanta starters have a 1.00 ERA, allowing eight earned runs in 72 innings. No starter allowed more than two runs during the streak.
The bid for a combined no-hitter ended with one out in the seventh when reliever Shane Carle allowed a single to Spangenberg. Freddy Galvis added another single before Carle pitched out of the jam.
Jose Vizcaino gave up singles to Spangenberg and Galvis in the ninth before striking out Christian Villanueva and Raffy Lopez. Right fielder Nick Markakis, running toward the foul line, made a diving catch of Lopez's fly ball to end the game. Vizcaino earned his 15th save of 2018, with three of them coming in this series.
Johan Camargo's two-run double in the fourth inning off Jose Castillo (1-1) gave Atlanta a 2-0 lead. Tyler Flowers hit a two-run homer off Brad Hand in the eighth.
The Padres, who lost 1-0 Saturday, ended a 16-inning scoring drought in the eighth. Franmil Reyes singled off A.J. Minter, moved to third on Eric Hosmer's single and scored on Jose Pirela's sacrifice fly. Hunter Renfroe's fourth strikeout of the game ended the inning.
The NL East-leading Braves won three of four in the series, ending San Diego's streak of five straight series wins. The Padres' last series loss came May 25-27, when they dropped two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Matt Strahm made his fourth start as the Padres continue to use a bullpen committee approach for one spot in their rotation. Strahm allowed only one hit with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. San Diego's first four relievers allowed only two runs.
"We just didn't do enough offensively," Padres manager Andy Green said.
Atlanta catcher Kurt Suzuki left the game after he was hit on his helmet by Lopez's bat as he struck out with a big follow-through to end the second inning. Suzuki was knocked to the ground but was able to walk off the field. Snitker doesn't expect Suzuki to miss any playing time as a result.
Braves third-base coach Ron Washington had words with Lopez when Lopez emerged from the San Diego dugout to open the third inning. Snitker said the discussion was about Lopez not checking on Suzuki before walking away from the plate.
In transactions, the Braves optioned left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he will start, while right-hander Luke Jackson was re-signed to a major league contract after being designated for assignment Wednesday.
Atlanta is off Monday before opening a two-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday night, when Braves rookie right-hander Mike Soroka (2-1, 2.57) faces veteran lefty Jaime Garcia (2-5, 5.71).