Braves' Teheran, Astros' Straily throw zeroes

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Starters Julio Teheran of the Atlanta Braves and Dan Straily of the Houston Astros were dominant in Friday's game, which was rained out in the seventh inning with the score tied at 1.

Teheran, who will start the Braves' regular-season opener against the Washington Nationals on April 4, struck out five and walked none in six shutout innings for an Atlanta split squad.

''That's something different for me this spring, I've been getting ahead in counts and throwing strikes,'' Teheran said. ''That's what you want to take into the regular season. I feel right now I'm ready for the season. Everything is right where I want it to be.''

Straily, who is preparing for an unknown role with the Astros, gave up no hits and one walk in four innings in what he considered his best spring appearance ever.

''I'm dead serious - I think it's the very first time I've ever not given up a run in a spring training outing,'' he said.

Actually, it was the third of 20 spring appearances with Oakland and Houston in which the 27-year-old right-hander did not give up a run.

''Today just happened to be the day where everything was finally in line,'' said Straily, who was starting his first game after four relief appearances.

He doesn't know what is next, or when.

''I found out I was starting this game two days ago,'' he said. ''I'm here to pitch whenever they need me to. I don't know if they've intentionally done it, but I haven't pitched on even rest, so it's helping to prepare me for the (long-relief) job I'm trying out for.''

Erick Aybar drove in the Braves' run with a triple in the sixth after Gordon Beckham's double off Ken Giles, Atlanta's first hit.

Jason Castro tied it with an RBI single off Jason Grilli in the seventh, just before the rain came.

STARTING TIME

Astros: Said Straily, who started three of the four games in which he appeared for Houston last season: ''It's really no secret that there's one spot left in the bullpen and I'm fighting for it like everybody else.''

Braves: With one spring start left, Teheran has a 2.60 ERA and says he is more confident in his changeup.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (sore shoulder) is scheduled to throw a second bullpen session Sunday before starting a spring buildup routine. He will start the season on the disabled list, but the Astros are hopeful he will miss only a start or two.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Scott Feldman will face the Miami Marlins on Saturday night in the final game at Osceola County Stadium. ... RHP Chris Devenski will pitch against the San Diego Padres on Saturday in the first of two games the Astros will play in Mexico City.

Braves: RHP Bud Norris is scheduled to make his fifth start, this time against the New York Mets at Disney.