Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning at Turner Field. Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
ATLANTA — Julio Teheran made one run stand up and outdueled Justin Verlander as the Atlanta Braves closed Turner Field with a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
The loss eliminated Detroit from the American League wild-card race.
Teheran (7-10) did not allow a run in seven innings of work. He threw 100 pitches and 69 were strikes. He gave up three hits and only one walk. He struck out 12, which matched his career high set on May 24 against Milwaukee.
Verlander (16-9) worked seven innings and gave up only one run on six hits. He struck out eight and had one intentional walk. Verlander’s record in interleague starts dropped to 27-5.
Atlanta got its lone run against Verlander in the first inning. Ender Inciarte singled and went to third when Adonis Garcia placed an opposite-field single to right. Inciarte scored on Freddie Freeman’s sacrifice fly to center field.
Atlanta reliever Jose Ramirez worked a scoreless eighth inning. Closer Jim Johnson pitched around a hit in the ninth inning to earn his 20th save and closed the game with two strikeouts.
Atlanta finished the season 68-93. Detroit was 86-75.
Detroit had its best chance against Teheran in the second inning. The Tigers had runners on first and second with one out, but Teheran struck out James McCann and got Jose Iglesias to pop to shortstop.
Iglesias doubled to lead off the eighth inning against Ramirez. He was doubled up to end the inning when Ian Kinsler’s liner was snared by Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson and relayed to second before Iglesias could get back to the bag.
The game was the final one contested at Turner Field, the club’s home for the last 20 years. Atlanta will move to the new Sun Trust Park in the northwest suburbs of Marietta next spring. A crowd of 51,220 filled the park, the largest to see a game this year.
The Braves pulled out all the stops in their pregame ceremonies. They introduced their All-Turner Field, selected by the fans, with the loudest ovations going to the pitching triumvirate of Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz and longtime manager Bobby Cox.
NOTES: The Braves and RHP Jim Johnson have reached a two-year deal for 2017-18. Johnson took over as the team’s closer when Jason Grilli was traded and Arodys Vizcaino suffered an oblique strain. … Detroit named OF Justin Upton as its player of the month and Justin Verlander as pitcher of the month for September.
