Reds 0 - 1 Braves
Final/10
  for this game

Braves eye sweep of Reds in potential pitchers' duel

Apr 27, 2014 - 12:04 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Runs could be hard to come by in Sunday afternoon's finale of a three-game set between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds given the two streaking right-handers scheduled to take the mound.

The Reds' Johnny Cueto will try to lock up a third straight victory, while Julio Teheran of the Braves aims to build on his impressive start.

The 28-year-old Cueto began the season 0-2 through three starts despite a 2.14 earned run average, but has since posted back-to-back dominating efforts versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cueto hurled complete games in each outing, the first a three-hit, 12- strikeout shutout at home on April 16. He then scattered a run on three hits and three walks in a 4-1 road win over the Pirates on Tuesday, carrying a 21- inning scoreless streak into the ninth frame before giving up a solo homer.

"It feels good when you throw good against the same team the way I did," Cueto said on the Reds' official website. "All of my pitches were down. Everything was down and everything was under control except for a few pitches I could not control."

Cueto now sits at 2-2 on the season with a 1.38 ERA and is 1-2 lifetime versus the Braves with a 4.05 ERA.

Teheran, meanwhile, has not allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts this year, going 2-1 while posting a 1.80 ERA.

The 23-year-old hurled a three-hit shutout to beat Philadelphia on April 16, then did not factor into a 4-2 win over Miami on Monday even though he allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings. Teheran also struck out a season-high eight.

Teheran will face the Reds for the second time in his career and took a loss on July 14 of last year against them, giving up five runs over 5 1/3 innings.

The Braves will try to secure their fourth straight victory this afternoon and a sweep of the series after winning last night's encounter 4-1 behind an excellent performance from David Hale.

Hale allowed one run over eight innings, retiring 21 of the next 22 batters he faced after giving up a run in the first inning on a double by Ryan Ludwick.

"I was kind of angry that I had two outs real quick in the beginning and then let them score but I calmed myself down and was able to go from there," said Hale.

Freddie Freeman countered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, while Justin Upton and Evan Gattis hit back-to-back shots in the third for Atlanta.

Reds starter Mike Leake allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings.

The Reds have not been swept by the Braves in three games since May 2-4, 2008 in Atlanta.

Cincinnati went 3-4 against the Braves last season after winning five of six meetings in 2012.






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