Simmons’ ninth-inning hit lifts Braves over Blue Jays, snaps record home losing streak

ATLANTA The hottest and coldest teams in the major leagues opened a three-game series Tuesday at Turner Field, and the first-night results surely surprised folks all around baseball.

Andrelton Simmons’ opposite-field single with one out in the ninth inning gave the Braves a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, snapping a franchise-record 12-game home losing skid.

Adonis Garcia led off the ninth inning with an infield single, and pinch-runner Todd Cunningham advanced to third base on A.J. Pierzysnki’s single, the third hit of the night for the 38-year-old catcher. After pinch-runner Christian Bethancourt advanced to second base on defensive indifference, the Braves had two in scoring position with none out.

Cameron Maybin’s groundout to second base didn’t get a run in, but Simmons’ first-pitch single through the right side did.

After batting .280 and averaging more than six runs during a 32-10 tear entering the series, including 53 runs and 83 hits in their previous eight games, the Blue Jays were held to two runs and five hits by Julio Teheran and five members of the Braves’ much-maligned bullpen, including four rookies.

The Braves are just 15-46 since July 7, including (8-53) in games not started by Julio Teheran.

Teheran allowed five hits, two runs and four walks with seven strikeouts in 52/3 innings, and didn’t look pleased walking off the field about being taken out of the game after he gave up a two-out single and walk in the sixth inning. Rookie left-hander Andrew McKirahan induced a soft liner from pinch-hitter Chris Colabello to strand both runners and keep the score at 2-2.

Teheran got no decision to remain 5-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 14 starts since the beginning of July, including eight Braves wins. He’s allowed two runs or fewer in eight of those 14 games.

Justin Smoak led off the sixth inning with a game-tying homer, the 72nd homer for the slugging Blue Jays during a 43-game tear, and their 35th homer in 19 road games during that period.

Toronto had a majors-best 37-15 record since the All-Star break before Tuesday, and had built a three-game lead off the second-place Yankees in the American League East.

The Braves fell behind 1-0 in the second inning when Smoak drew a leadoff walk, advanced on a Ryan Goins single, and scored on Cliff Pennington’s two-out single.

But they answered with a run in the bottom of the second after a leadoff single from Adonis Garcia and a double by A.J. Pierzynski put two runners in scoring position with none out. After Nick Swisher struck out, Simmons’ groundout drove in the tying run. Simmons would ground into double plays in each of his next two at-bats, including after Swisher’s leadoff walk in the seventh inning with the score tied, 2-2.

The Braves took the lead in the third after Nick Markakis doubled to start the inning. He advanced on a Daniel Castro sacrifice bunt and scored on an error when first baseman Smoak booted a Freddie Freeman grounder.

Teheran protected the lead until Smoak led off the sixth with his 16th homer, on a 91-mph fastball in a 2-2 count. Two outs later, Teheran was removed after allowing a two-out single by Kevin Pillar and a Cliff Pennington walk.

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