Teheran, Braves nip Lee, Phillies 1-0

photo Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran reacts after Philadelphia Phillies' Cody Asche flied out to end the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 16, 2014, in Philadelphia. Atlanta won 1-0.

PHILADELPHIA - Julio Teheran pitched a three-hitter, Evan Gattis homered among a career-best four hits, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 Wednesday night.

Teheran (3-1) retired his first 12 batters before Ryan Howard led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out four and got 14 outs on fly balls in his first complete game in 38 career starts. He became the ninth Braves starter in the first 14 games this year to allow one run or none.

Philadelphia wasted an excellent outing by Cliff Lee (2-2). The ace left-hander struck out 13 and pitched around 11 hits, throwing a career-high 128 pitches.

Gattis drove an 0-2 pitch into the left-field seats in the fourth inning. It was his fifth homer in his last three games at Citizens Bank Park.

Lee, a prolific strike-thrower, often gets hurt on 0-2 pitches. He entered the game with five hits allowed, including two doubles, among a dozen 0-2 pitches.

After the slow-footed Howard reached on a slow roller toward second base that was fielded by shifted third baseman Chris Johnson, Teheran retired the next 11 batters before Carlos Ruiz lined a single to left field with two outs in the eighth. Jimmy Rollins hit a single with two outs in the ninth.

Rollins stole second on a 3-0 pitch to Chase Utley, but Utley following with a game-ending groundout.

Pitchers had the advantage against bundled-up hitters on a chilly night. The temperature was only 47 degrees at first pitch.

The series resumed after Tuesday night's rainout, which will be made up in June. The Braves rallied for a 9-6 win Monday night when Dan Uggla hit a ninth-inning grand slam off fill-in closer Jake Diekman.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel is "day to day" with shoulder discomfort.

Utley was 0-for-4, ending his 11-game hitting streak. Gattis was 0-for-6 with four strikeouts against Lee before his four hits Wednesday. Lee has 29 career double-digit strikeout games.

A.J. Burnett (0-1) tries for the fourth time to win his first game with the Phillies in this afternoon's series finale. Lefty Alex Wood (2-1) goes for the Braves. Atlanta's starters haven't allowed more than three earned runs in any game this season.

Left-hander Cole Hamels is moving closer to returning to Philadelphia's rotation next week. He was slowed by a shoulder problem in spring training.

The Phillies signed lefty pitcher Adam Loewen to a minor league contract and assigned him to extended spring training. Loewen spent the last five seasons playing first base and outfield in the minors.

Upcoming Events