Aug 21, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) is congratulated by starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) after Simmons hit a solo home run off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher David Holmberg (not pictured) in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
CINCINNATI — Julio Teheran pitched six shutout innings and shortstop Andrelton Simmons homered, lifting the Atlanta Braves to an 8-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.
Atlanta (67-61) won for the sixth time in eight games to remain within seven games of the first-place Washington Nationals in the National League East standings.
Teheran (12-9) allowed just four hits in six innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
Left fielder Justin Upton went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Braves.
Cincinnati (61-67) has lost six straight and is 10-23 since the All-Star break, dropping them farther out of postseason contention.
Reds starter David Holmberg (0-1) was promoted from Triple-A on Thursday and allowed six earned runs, walked four and hit two batters in 2 2/3 innings.
Left fielder Skip Schumaker pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Cincinnati, becoming the first Reds position player to do so since 2009.
Holmberg, who made a spot start in the nightcap of a doubleheader on July 8 and gave up five earned runs including three homers, was hit hard early again Thursday.
In the second inning, Holmberg hung a 75 mph breaking ball to Simmons, who sent it sailing into the left field stands to put the Braves ahead 1-0.
The floodgates opened in the third inning after the umpires correctly upheld a manager’s challenge that Schumaker trapped right fielder Jason Heyward’s pop fly.
Atlanta loaded the bases with no outs, and Upton’s single drove home two runs to make the score 3-0. Third baseman Chris Johnson doubled off the wall to drive home the fourth run. A sacrifice fly by catcher Evan Gattis made the score 5-0.
It went from bad to worse for Holmberg, who intentionally walked center fielder B.J. Upton to get to Teheran, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Holmberg then walked Heyward to drive in the Braves’ sixth run.
NOTES: Cincinnati promoted RHP David Holmberg and RHP Pedro Villarreal from Triple-A Louisville and optioned RHP J.J. Hoover and RHP Carlos Contreras to Triple-A on Thursday. Hoover is in the midst of a 10-game losing streak, longest in club history for a reliever. … Entering Thursday’s action, the Braves led the National League with a 17-8 record this season against NL Central opponents, including 3-0 against Cincinnati. … Braves CF B.J. Upton celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday. … Braves 1B Freddie Freeman made his 128th start this season. Freeman and Giants OF Hunter Pence are the only major league players to start every game for their clubs. … Braves LF Justin Upton’s third-inning single extended his hitting streak to 12 games. … Reds RHP Pedro Villarreal singled in the third inning for his first career hit.
