Jay Bruce’s three-run home run off Julio Teheran in the first inning proved to be enough for Brandon Finnegan, as the Reds claimed a 3-1 win over the Braves on Tuesday night at Turner Field.
Bruce’s 15th homer of the season provided some early comfort for Finnegan, who scattered four hits and pitched around three walks to allow just one run over six innings. The Reds’ southpaw has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his first 14 starts this season.
“It really is the tale of that first inning,” Reds manager Bryan Price said, “And Joey [Votto] grinding out a great at-bat to get a walk, Brandon [Phillips] in another great at-bat lines a single to left, and then Jay getting the one really costly mistake Teheran made tonight for a three-run homer. After that, he just simply shut us down.”
Teheran allowed just three hits and three runs while recording eight strikeouts over seven innings. The right-hander was nearly flawless after allowing his sixth home run in a 12-inning span, dating back to the fourth inning of his June 3 start against the Dodgers. But for the 13th time in 14 starts this season, the Braves provided their ace three runs or fewer of support.
With closer Tony Cingrani unavailable after appearing in four of the Reds’ last five games, the Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Blake Wood, who notched his only previous save in 2011. Wood was able to escape when A.J. Pierzynski struck out and Mallex Smith grounded into a game-ending double play to drop Atlanta’s batting average with the bases loaded to .211 (11-for-52).
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