Teheran loses in debut, Braves fall to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – Julio Teheran showed he's got the stuff to pitch in the majors.

Teheran (0-1) gave up three runs and four hits in 4 2-3 innings in his big league debut and the Atlanta Braves lost 3-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.

Fill-in starter Kyle Kendrick and four relievers combined on a five-hitter and Ryan Howard homered for Philadelphia.

Teheran, the Braves' top pitching prospect, was called up because they needed a spot starter after playing a doubleheader Wednesday. He's headed back to the minors after his cameo with the big club, but he left quite an impression.

"I got more confidence after the first couple innings," Teheran said through an interpreter. "It was very exciting. I tried my best. It's been the best moments of my life."

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he thought Teheran "did a good job."

"I didn't see any deer-in-the-headlights look," Gonzalez said. "It was nice to see. We thought this guy could handle it and be better for it. He did great."

The 20-year-old right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Gwinnett this season. He has 25 strikeouts and has limited opponents to a .118 batting average.

"He's definitely a good prospect, he's smooth, he's got a big future," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's going to get stronger. He's going to mature."

Kendrick (2-2) allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three in five innings. He filled in for Roy Oswalt, who went on the disabled list Friday with lower back inflammation.

Kendrick, a former starter pitching out of the bullpen this season, left after 69 pitches. J.C. Romero and Michael Stutes each allowed one hit in one inning. Antonio Bastardo worked a hitless eighth and Ryan Madson finished for his third save in three tries.

One night after wasting Cliff Lee's 16-strikeout performance in a 5-0 loss, the Phillies got runs in the second, fourth and fifth off Teheran.

Ben Francisco walked leading off the Philadelphia second. He advanced to third on Brian Schneider's one-out single and scored on Pete Orr's groundout to second.

Howard hit a towering shot into the right-center seats to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the fourth. He moved into second place on Philadelphia's career list with his 260th homer, passing Del Ennis. Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is first with 548.

Jimmy Rollins walked with two outs in the fifth, stole second and scored on Shane Victorino's triple to deep center for a 3-0 lead.

NOTES: Atlanta RHP Derek Lowe is hopeful he can make his next start despite a blister on his right foot that bothered him during Friday night's start in which he took a no-hitter into the seventh. ... LF Martin Prado made a sensational, diving catch running to his right on the warning track to rob Victorino of extra bases in the eighth. ... A crowd of 45,609 was the 155th straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play.