CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — Bolstered by extra rest following the All-Star break, Julio Teheran was strong in what he said was his best start of the season.
Even Teheran’s dominance wasn’t enough to bail out the Atlanta Braves’ bats.
Teheran matched his career high with 11 strikeouts while allowing only one run in seven innings, but rookie reliever Shae Simmons gave up Garrett Jones’ two-run single in the 10th inning as the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 3-1 on Monday night.
The Braves were held to six hits and stranded nine runners.
Christian Yelich led off the 10th with a single off Simmons (1-2) and moved to second on Jordany Valdespin’s sacrifice bunt. Following an intentional walk to Giancarlo Stanton, Simmons walked Casey McGehee to load the bases.
Jones broke a 1-1 tie with his grounder past Simmons into center field.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Simmons is experiencing “just a little bit of a learning curve” with losses in his last two appearances.
“You feel good when he’s out there, that he’s going to give you a good, solid inning,” Gonzalez said. “It just hasn’t happened the last couple times out.
“I think it’s also a young kid coming out of the bullpen in certain situations, you know? He’s got to get used to it. He’ll be fine.”
Bryan Morris (7-0) stranded two runners in a scoreless ninth to get the win. Steve Cishek pitched a perfect 10th inning, striking out Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton, for his 22nd save.
The Braves dropped a game behind first-place Washington in the NL East. The Nationals beat Colorado 7-2.
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the ninth.
Kimbrel walked McGehee to open the inning and he raced to third on Jones’ single to right. Kimbrel had two strikes on Marcell Ozuna before throwing four straight balls to load the bases.
Kimbrel struck out Saltalamacchia and Adeiny Hechavarria before pinch-hitter Donovan Solano lined out to second base to end the inning.
Teheran gave up one run — a homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia — and three other hits in seven innings.
“Everything was working today,” Teheran said. “One mistake cost me one run. I feel that was the best start I’ve had this year. I was getting ahead in counts. All my pitches were working and I had the confidence to throw them.”
Gonzalez said Teheran, who has a 2.64 ERA, “was probably as good as I’ve seen him in a long time.”
Added Gonzalez: “I guess we can say that every time he goes out.”
Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings.
“I don’t want to say it’s bend or break, but we’re running out of season,” Koehler said. “These guys are ahead of us, so obviously coming in here we want to play them tough and win these games.”
Saltalamacchia hit his 10th homer in the fifth for a 1-1 tie that held until the ninth.
Koehler gave up one run in the second inning when Justin Upton led off with a single up the middle and later scored on Chris Johnson’s groundout.
Teheran retired Miami’s first nine hitters before walking Yelich to open the fourth. That set the stage for Andrelton Simmons’ defensive play of the game.
With Yelich running from first, Simmons was running toward second base when Valdespin hit a sharp grounder toward shortstop. Simmons stopped and dived back toward his vacated spot to grab the grounder before again quickly reversing his momentum to reach in the other direction and tag second base to force out Yelich.
Braves catcher Evan Gattis had one hit after he was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. He had been sidelined since June 29 with a bulging disk in his lower back.
NOTES: The season series is tied 5-5. … Braves C Christian Bethancourt drew a vote of confidence from Gonzalez after the rookie was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to clear a spot for Gattis. “This guy’s going to be our catcher of the future,” Gonzalez said. “He’s just got to wait his turn.” … Redmond said RHP Henderson Alvarez will be able to make his scheduled start Thursday. Alvarez left Saturday’s game against the Giants with a bruised left shin after being hit by a comebacker. … The four-game series continues Tuesday night when Marlins RHP Jacob Turner faces Braves LHP Mike Minor.
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