The Braves’ era at Turner Field is over. So, too, is the Tigers’ opportunity at the postseason.
Once again, Justin Verlander was stingy with the season on the line. This time, however, his opposing starter was stingier. And after 12 strikeouts from Braves ace Julio Teheran in a 1-0 win Sunday, the Tigers were eliminated from playoff contention.
Detroit needed a win Sunday along with a loss from either the Blue Jays or Orioles to extend its season in hopes of earning an American League Wild Card spot. The first part was the challenge in front of them, and Teheran answered, sending Tigers batters chasing high fastballs through the late afternoon shadows. His 12 strikeouts tied his season high, a day after Braves rookie starter Aaron Blair struck out a career-best 10 Tigers over six innings.
“I know he’s very tough on right-handed hitters,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of Teheran, “and unfortunately we’re a right-handed lineup. But we have good right-handed hitters. He had his stuff working today. Really, the story was him.”
Verlander did his part to answer, but Freddie Freeman’s first-inning sacrifice fly stood as the difference. Verlander struck out eight over seven innings, finishing his renaissance season with a 3.04 ERA. It was the Tigers’ third 1-0 loss this season with Verlander on the mound.
“There was a lot of pitching and a lot of history in this ballpark,” Freeman said. “For it to go down as a 1-0 game between Julio and Verlander, that was a fitting ending for this ballpark.”
Teheran entered Sunday’s game with a 1-6 record and a 3.84 ERA in 17 home starts this season. The right-hander made the most of his final outing at Turner Field, though, allowing only three hits over seven scoreless innings. The Tigers threatened to score in the second, when Teheran issued a one-out walk to Nick Castellanos to put runners on first and second. But Atlanta’s ace escaped the jam unscathed with a strikeout and a lineout. Only two more runners reached against Teheran, who reached 95 mph with his fastball and finished with a 3.21 ERA.
“[I was feeling] a lot of emotions,” Teheran said. “My friends, the crowd and the emotions you’re feeling in that place right now, it was unbelievable. I think I came with my best stuff, and I wanted to do this. Everybody was excited, and I’m glad I had my stuff. I couldn’t make it any better than that.”
The pitching duel left Verlander victimized by Freeman’s sacrifice fly, but he avoided a second such tally with some strategic pitching in the seventh after Adonis Garcia singled, stole second and reached third on a James McCann throwing error. Verlander struck out Matt Kemp on a offspeed pitch that ducked off the plate, intentionally walked Nick Markakis, then sent a 96-mph fastball past Tyler Flowers for a called third strike.
“I know I pitched well,” Verlander said, “but it doesn’t make me feel any better right now.”
After Jose Iglesias opened the eighth with a double, Jose Ramirez struck out pinch-hitter Victor Martinez, then induced an Ian Kinsler liner that shortstop Dansby Swanson snared before throwing to second base to double up Iglesias. The Tigers loaded the bases to begin Saturday’s eighth and saw that threat end when Swanson began a nifty double play after diving to grab J.D. Martinez’s sharp grounder.
“Huge defensive play,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker about Swanson’s defensive gem. “I have a feeling that’s going to be the norm with that kid. The bigger the situation, the bigger he’s going to come up. You feel really really good when he’s out there.”
Said Kinsler: “I didn’t hit it great, but anytime you can hit a ball on the line, you think it’s got a chance to find a hole. It just didn’t.”
The Tigers had one last chance to extend their season once Miguel Cabrera hit an opposite-field single off former teammate Jim Johnson with one out. Johnson struck out J.D. Martinez on three pitches, all fastballs, then recovered from a 3-1 count to Justin Upton with back-to-back called strikes, including a full-count fastball over the plate for the 15th strikeout of the afternoon. The Tigers were held to three runs over their final two games.
