Teheran shows composure after confrontation

WASHINGTON -- The Braves have seen Julio Teheran develop into one of their most dependable starters as this season has progressed. During Tuesday night's win over the Nationals, they saw Teheran take another positive step in the maturation process by showing great poise after being involved in a benches-clearing verbal exchange with Bryce Harper.

Harper hit a third-inning solo home run off Teheran and then got drilled in the right thigh with the first-pitch fastball Teheran threw him in his next at-bat. Harper stared at the 22-year-old Braves pitcher and expressed his displeasure with some choice words as he made his way toward first base. Teheran did not back down as he walked toward Harper during the verbal spat.

Once order was restored after the incident that drew nothing more than verbal exchanges, Teheran was tasked with preserving his club's one-run lead with runners at first and second and just one out in the fifth. He did so by retiring the next two batters he faced -- Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth.

"Usually the baseball gods have a tendency -- if you're doing things you're not supposed to be doing, those innings become five-run innings," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He held his composure."

Teheran ended up allowing just one run during the six innings he completed on Tuesday. He has now allowed fewer than two runs in each of his past four starts and a total of 10 times this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the highest total by a Braves pitcher 22 years old or younger since Steve Avery did so in 11 such starts during the 1992 season.