Teheran dominates in G-Braves' 5-1 win over Knights

FORT MILL, S.C. -- Atlanta Braves' top pitching prospect, Gwinnett right-hander Julio Teheran turned in his best performance of the 2012 season on Sunday evening at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, S.C.

The 21-year-old pitched a nine-inning complete game, the first of his professional career, leading the Gwinnett Braves to a 5-1 win over the Charlotte Knights.

Teheran, the International League's Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Pitcher in 2011, had never gone longer than eight innings in a start heading into the outing. He changed that against the Knights, allowing only one run on seven hits, walking none and striking out six. Teheran (W, 5-3) threw a season-high 109 pitches, 77 for strikes to help the G-Braves end a four-game losing streak and increase their lead in the IL South to 1.5 games over the second-place Knights.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth as both Teheran and Charlotte starter Dylan Axelrod were dominating the game. But in that inning, the G-Braves scored their first run as Christian Marrero led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout to first by Collin DeLome and then scored on a squeeze play as Lance Zawadzki pushed a perfect bunt to first base.

Gwinnett added two more in the top of the sixth. Tyler Pastornicky drew a one out walk, stole second base and then moved to third on a throwing error by Charlotte catcher Josh Phegley. Felix Pie then plated Pastornicky with a ground-rule double to right-center for a 2-0 lead. Pie would then score on a single to left by Ernesto Mejia to raise the Gwinnett lead to 3-0.

In the top of the seventh, DeLome led off with a double to left, and moved to third on a single to right by Zawadzki. Shawn McGill then knocked in DeLome with a single to right to make it 4-0 and Zawadzki would later score on a groundout to short by Luis Durango.

With a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Teheran would give up his only run of the game, coming on a one-out solo homer to left-center by Jordan Danks (7).

Axlerod (L, 4-3) suffered the loss, going 6 1/3 innings with seven hits, five earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts. Relievers Anthony Carter and Jhan Carlos Marinez combined for 1 2/3 scoreless innings to finish out the game.

Seven of the nine Gwinnett starters registered a hit in the game including Mejia, who went 1-for-4 with his team-leading 41st RBI. Greg Golson and Danks each were 2-for-4 to pace the Charlotte seven-hit attack.

The Gwinnett Braves (33-24) and Charlotte Knights (32-26) conclude the two-game series on Monday night at Knights Stadium. Right-hander Eric Junge (3-4, 4.20 ERA) will pitch for the G-Braves, while the Knights will counter with right-hander Charlie Shirek (5-3, 4.23 ERA). Listen to the broadcast on WDUN AM 550 in Gainesville, Georgia with Tony Schiavone calling the play-by-play.