Teheran goes six strong as Braves down Cardinals, 5-1

[June 30, 2018]  Atlanta third baseman Johan Camargo and shortstop Dansby Swanson each had three hits to support the six scoreless innings thrown by Julio Teheran and give the Braves a 5-1 win over the host St. Louis Cardinals on Friday at Busch Stadium.

Camargo was 3-for-5, and his one-out double in the eighth against Jordan Hicks split the gap and drove home two runs to give the Braves some breathing room. Swanson was 3-for-4 and drove in Camargo with a single against Greg Holland.

Teheran (6-5) bounced back from last week's ineffective start against Baltimore to fire six shutout innings. The right-hander allowed two hits and two walks and struck out four. He retired 10 straight batters from the second through the fifth inning.

A.J. Minter pitched a perfect eighth inning. Luke Jackson began the ninth and retired one batter before loading the bases. Dan Winkler was brought in and retired Kolten Wong on a run-producing forceout before striking out Harrison Bader to earn his first career save.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas (8-3) pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run on seven hits and one walk. He struck out one, a season low. It was the eighth time in 16 starts that he has allowed one or fewer earned runs.

The Braves scored their first run in the seventh inning. After Atlanta loaded the bases with three hits against Mikolas, left-handed reliever Austin Gomber was brought in and plunked Ender Inciarte on the head with a soft curve on the first pitch to push across a run.

Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (39) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

The Braves added a run in the ninth inning on Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly.

Braves phenom Ronald Acuna Jr. went 0-for-4 in his first start since being activated from the disabled list Thursday.

The second game of the three-game set will be Saturday. Atlanta will recall left-hander Max Fried (0-2, 4.09 ERA) from Triple-A Gwinnett to make the start against St. Louis right-hander Luke Weaver (4-6, 4.59). This is the first series of the year between the two clubs.

--Field Level Media

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