WASHINGTON -- Julio Teheran entered this season faced with the challenge of proving he was ready for the Major League level. During the four months that have followed, Teheran has matured and proven to be one of the key reasons the Braves have a comfortable lead atop the National League East standings.
Teheran stood tall over six strong innings and Evan Gattis delivered a clutch two-run single that enabled the Braves to notch their 12th consecutive victory with Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Nationals at Nationals Park.
With wins in the first two games of this three-game set, the Braves have gained a 14 1/2-game lead over the second-place Nationals. This is their largest division lead since Aug. 28, 2003.
While any lingering intrigue surrounding this division race has steadily diminished over the past week, Bryce Harper made things interesting when he exchanged words with Teheran after being hit in the right thigh with a fastball in the fifth inning. It was the first pitch the Nationals outfielder had seen after taking his time to get around the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.
As Harper stared and barked at Teheran while moving toward first base, Brian McCann came out from behind the plate to protect his pitcher and was intercepted by home-plate umpire Joe West. Both benches and bullpens emptied. But nothing but words were exchanged.
Harper's home run accounted for the only run Teheran surrendered while allowing four hits and throwing 90 pitches in six innings. The 22-year-old right-hander has compiled a 1.13 ERA in his past four starts and has been credited with three wins during his club's winning streak.
Teheran was staring at potential trouble when Anthony Rendon opened the bottom of the fifth with a double. With first base open and one out, he plunked Harper and then seemed unfazed as he retired Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth to end the inning.
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez retired eight straight batters before Teheran sent a double to right field with two outs in the third inning. After B.J. Upton delivered a one-out single and Andrelton Simmons walked in the fifth, Teheran aided his cause with a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners in position to score when Gattis drilled a first-pitch fastball to right field.
The fact that Gattis delivered the game-winning hit just added to the long list of things that have gone right for the Braves during their winning streak. Gattis entered the game in the first inning after Jason Heyward strained his neck during hist first at-bat.
After retiring the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning, Luis Avilan allowed the Nationals to load the bases with a Harper single and two walks. But Avilan escaped that threat when Adam LaRoche sent an inning-ending grounder directly to first baseman Freddie Freeman.
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