ATLANTA — Rookie right-hander Julio Teheran is assembling more evidence that he deserves a permanent place in the Atlanta Braves’ rotation.
The rookie right-hander bounced back from one of his worst starts to throw six shutout innings and pitch the Braves to a 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
Teheran (5-3) didn’t resemble the pitcher who allowed five runs in six innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed seven hits Sunday but walked only one and struck out eight. He also pitched out of two bases-loaded jams.
“I tried to control myself in those situations,” Teheran said. “I was taking deep breaths and tried to get it back.”
Any discussion about removing Teheran from the rotation in favor of the rehabbing Brandon Beachy appears to have been sufficiently silenced. Over his last 10 starts, Teheran has allowed two or fewer runs seven times. He’s 2-0 against the Giants, allowing three runs in 13 innings with 11 strikeouts.
“He made some nice pitches,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Twelve starts ago that might have blown up on him. He composed himself and did a good job.”
Relievers Luis Avilan, Jordan Walden and Craig Kimbrel each pitched a scoreless, hitless inning to close the game. Kimbrel struck out two batters and earned his 19th save.
“They pitched well,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had a couple great opportunities and just missed getting the hit.”
The win was the second straight for Atlanta, which won two of three against the Giants and has yet to lose a series at Turner Field this year. San Francisco finished its road trip 4-5.
Giants starter Tim Lincecum (4-7) lost for the fourth time in five starts. He allowed three runs (two earned), six hits and five walks over six innings, and he struck out only three batters against an Atlanta lineup that fans more than any other National League team.
“He found a way to get on track and found a way to keep us in the game,” Bochy said. “I was proud of the way he battled. He did a good job competing.”
The Braves’ offense was led by first baseman Freddie Freeman, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in the first inning. All three of Freeman’s hits came against Lincecum, against whom he had been 0-for-11.
“He’s swinging it pretty good,” Gonzalez said of Freeman. “And he didn’t have very good numbers against Lincecum.”
In the first, Andrelton Simmons led off with a walk and stole second. The next two hitters were robbed of hits by Giants center fielder Gregor Blanco, but Freeman lined an opposite-field single into left to score Simmons.
Atlanta added a run in the third inning when B.J. Upton doubled home Jason Heyward. The Braves loaded the bases with one out, but Lincecum got Chris Johnson to ground into a double play to end the threat.
The Giants loaded the bases in the fourth inning but came away empty when Braves left fielder Justin Upton made a diving catch on a looping liner off the bat of Joaquin Arias. A hit would have scored at least two runs and tied the game.
“It had an arc to it, so it was a safe ball to go after,” Upton said. “It was two outs and the bases were loaded, so you want to make that catch.”
The Braves added a third run in the sixth. Ramiro Pena singled to left and hustled to third when the ball skipped past Andres Torres, who was slow to recover. Pena scored on Jordan Schafer’s squeeze bunt, which bounced too high for Lincecum to attempt a play at home.
“The play of the game was the hustle by Pena,” Gonzalez said. “Then we were able to execute the squeeze and get us another run.”
NOTES: The victory was the 500th for Gonzalez, 224 of them in his two-plus seasons with the Braves. … San Francisco OF Angel Pagan will be activated during the team’s upcoming homestand, although the exact date of his return has not been announced. Pagan has been on the disabled list since May 28 with a strained right hamstring. … Giants INF Tony Abreu sat out the game with a sore right hamstring. … Braves 2B Dan Uggla did not start for the first time since May 30. Pena got his sixth start at second base; he’s also started seven games at shortstop and five at third base. … Atlanta will begin a five-game series with the New York Mets on Monday. Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader is the result of an April 5 rainout. San Francisco returns home for a seven-game homestand that begins with three games against the San Diego Padres.