Major League Baseball

Teheran, Freeman help Braves improve to 5-0

Published Apr. 11, 2015 9:55 p.m. ET

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ATLANTA (AP) The season is only five days old, and Freddie Freeman likes what he sees from the Atlanta Braves' situational hitting.

''People are just trying to get the job done and move the runner,'' Freeman said. ''If we can keep doing that and play the game of baseball, good things usually happen.''

Julio Teheran pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Braves stayed hot with a 5-3 victory Saturday night over the New York Mets, who learned earlier that injured closer Jenrry Mejia was suspended 80 games for a positive drug test.

''I understand everything about it, I really do,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''But you know what? There's 24 other guys in that locker room that need him, too. That's why it's real disappointing.''

The Braves began the season looking to rebuild after trading several high-profile players, but instead they improved to 5-0 for the first time since beginning the 1994 season 7-0. Atlanta's franchise record for consecutive wins to begin a season is 13, set in 1982.

Freeman homered for the Braves. Jim Johnson faced four batters in the ninth for his first save this season.

Teheran (2-0) allowed three baserunners through the first six innings, but he retired none of the five batters he faced in New York's three-run seventh.

He slightly twisted his right leg when the leadoff batter, Lucas Duda, singled up the middle, but Teheran stayed in the game after manager Fredi Gonzalez and a team trainer visited the mound.

Third baseman Alberto Callaspo misplayed Juan Lagares' grounder for an error as Duda scored, cutting the lead to 5-1. Teheran left after hitting Travis d'Arnaud with a bases-loaded pitch.

Reliever Brandon Cunniff got Wilmer Flores to ground into a double play that scored the third run.

Teheran struck out five while giving up two hits, four walks and three runs - one earned.

Freeman's homer, his first of the season, made it 1-0 in the second and was his 14th homer in 73 career games against the Mets.

Atlanta went ahead 5-0 in the fifth on RBI doubles by Christian Bethancourt and Andrelton Simmons, Eric Young Jr.'s RBI triple and Nick Markakis' run-scoring single.

That ended the night for Dillon Gee (0-1), who gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings.

Gee has pitched at least five innings in 47 straight starts, longest active streak in the majors. He had gone 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his previous three starts against Atlanta.

The Braves improved to 100-55 against the Mets at Turner Field. Their bullpen has not allowed a run in 18 innings this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: With Bobby Parnell likely to return next month after elbow ligament-replacement surgery last April, Collins says the team will be patient.

''The one thing we aren't going to do (is) rush him back,'' Collins said. ''I just think it's unfair.''

Braves: Teheran tweaked his knee while trying to get out of the way of Duda's liner, but added that there was no pain in his leg after the game.

''I wasn't making the pitches like I was making the six innings before, but I don't feel anything,'' Teheran said. ''That's the most important thing.''

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Bartolo Colon (1-0) has a 0.43 ERA with victories in each of his three career starts at Turner Field. In six career starts against Atlanta, Colon is 4-2 with a 2.00 ERA and has allowed one homer in that 45-inning stretch.

Braves: LHP Alex Wood (1-0) gave up two runs or fewer in 10 of 12 home starts last year. In five career starts against the Mets, however, Wood is 0-2 with a 4.10 ERA.

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