Teheran, Castro lead Braves past Cardinals

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran delivers in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran delivers in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Atlanta.

ATLANTA - Julio Teheran closed out the regular season just the way he wanted.

Teheran pitched six strong innings, Daniel Castro drove in two runs and the Atlanta Braves beat the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday night.

"You want to finish strong," Teheran said. "That's what you want to take home."

St. Louis, which opens the postseason at home next Friday, was coming off a three-game series win at Pittsburgh that secured its third straight division title. Manager Mike Matheny gave most of his everyday players the night off.

Teheran (11-8) allowed five hits, walked one and struck out six. The right-hander went 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA in his last six starts. The Braves' season ends Sunday.

"I know we were playing the best team in the National League," Teheran said. "I was really focused on this game. I think I did really good."

The Cardinals had the bases loaded with no out in the fifth but came up empty when pinch-hitter John Jay grounded into a double play and Tommy Pham struck out.

Atlanta, which stranded 12 runners, went up 2-0 in the third on Castro's second homer and A.J. Pierzynski's RBI double. Castro's RBI double and Nick Markakis' RBI single in the eighth made it 4-0.

Jaime Garcia (10-6) gave up six hits and two runs with two walks and five strikeouts in his shortest outing since April 19, 2013 at Philadelphia. St. Louis has been shut out in all six of his losses.

"I wanted to get a feel for things and I was able to accomplish that," Garcia said. "All I can say is I'm going to be ready to go next week, whenever it is (that he pitches)."

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, making his second relief appearance since returning this week from an Achilles injury, faced four batters in the seventh. Castro reached on an error.

The Braves used four relievers. Closer Arodys Vizcaino, pitching the ninth in a non-save situation, struck out Pete Kozma to end it with a runner at second.

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