ATLANTA -- Julio Teheran realized he was working on a no-hitter against Pittsburgh after the fifth inning. He tried to put the thought out of his head so he could keep doing what was working. Teheran held Pittsburgh without a hit for 7 2-3 innings before settling for a combined one-hit shutout, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Pirates 5-0 on Wednesday. Only 22, he took another big step in his breakthrough season. Tehran (4-2) gave up one hit with two walks and set a career high with 11 strikeouts in eight innings in the Braves fifth straight win, including a sweep of the three-game series. "I feel like hes comfortable," said Braves right fielder Jason Heyward, who had two hits. "Hes not trying to pitch his way onto the team. Hes going out there competing as a part of the team." Pinch-hitter Brandon Inge broke up Teherans no-hit bid by hitting a fastball for a single to left field with two outs in the eighth. Teheran received an ovation from Braves fans, who also cheered after the inning ended on Starling Martes pop-up. "The thing is, for someone like me sitting across on the other side, sitting for eight innings, I basically get to scout him for eight innings," Inge said. "I couldnt see exactly what he was throwing, but I could see what he was getting guys out with. It was just a great game he pitched. ... I tip my hat to him. He did an excellent job. Handled it well, too." David Carpenter pitched a perfect ninth to complete the combined one-hitter. Evan Gattis and Gerald Laird hit back-to-back homers in the sixth. Pittsburghs Wandy Rodriguez (6-4) left the game with tightness in his left forearm after recording only one out in the first inning. Rodriguez, a left-hander, pointed to his forearm when visited by manager Clint Hurdle and a trainer. After a brief discussion on the mound, Rodriguez was removed from the game. Instead of accompanying the team to Chicago for a series against the Cubs, Rodriguez returned to Pittsburgh to be examined. Rodriguez gave up two hits and a run and hit Freddie Freeman with his 14th and final pitch. The Pirates have lost three straight and five of six. Bryan Morris replaced Rodriguez and gave up no runs on three walks in 3 2-3 innings. Teheran was sharp from the start. Only 28 of his 107 pitches were balls, and he set a career high in strikeouts for the second straight start after fanning nine in a 3-2 loss to Washington on Friday. Teheran said he relied on his slider. "They maybe were looking for my two-seamer that Ive been throwing a lot but I didnt use," he said. "I just keep them off-balance." Teheran said no teammates talked to him in the dugout about the no-hit bid. "No, nobody," he said. "Its something nobody can tell me. Just let it happen." Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would have left Teheran in the game for the ninth if he had a chance to complete the no-hitter. "You dont want to run a young pitcher to 135 pitches just to try to get a no-hitter," he said. Teheran didnt allow a baserunner until Russell Martin walked with two outs in the fifth. Clint Barmes then popped out to end the inning. Teheran hit Marte with a pitch with one out in the sixth but ended the inning by catching Marte with his pickoff throw to first base. Gattis gave Atlanta a 2-0 lead by hitting an 0-2 pitch from Vin Mazzaro about halfway up the lower section of left-field seats for his 13th homer, easily the most for any rookie in the majors. Laird followed with his first homer, also to left field. The Braves added a run off Jared Hughes in the seventh. Jason Heyward and Chris Johnson had singles, and Heyward scored from second base when Freeman hit a fielders choice grounder to first base. Johnson was out on Garrett Jones throw to second, but Hughes missed Clint Barmes throw to first for an error. Hughes loaded the bases by walking Gattis and hitting Laird with a pitch. Dan Ugglas fly ball to shallow centre fell off the glove of a charging Andrew McCutchen, allowing Freeman to score for a 5-0 lead. Kent Mercker threw the Braves last no-hitter against the Dodgers on April 8, 1994. No Braves pitcher has thrown a no-hitter at Turner Field. NOTES: Lairds homer was his first since May 28, 2012, for Detroit at Boston. ... The last pitcher to no-hit the Pirates was Cincinnatis Homer Bailey on Sept. 28, 2012, also the last no-hitter in the majors. ... The Braves completed a 7-2 homestand to improve to 21-7 at home. ... The Pirates are off Thursday and open a three-game series at the Cubs on Friday when LHP Francisco Liriano faces Chicago LHP Travis Wood. ... The Braves open a four-game series at the Dodgers on Thursday night when RHP Tim Hudson faces RHP Zack Greinke. 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Ward never comes off the field anymore.Why would he?The versatile Denver versatile safety is in the midst of the best season of his seven-year NFL career.His 42 tackles at the halfway point are eight shy of his total from all of last season, when he made the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.The Broncos have a wealth of defensive stars to turn loose on opponents, from Von Millers antagonizing tackles to Chris Harris Jr. shutting down route runners.What T.J. Ward does is a little bit of everything -- except catch his breath.He clobbers quarterbacks on the blitz.He batters running backs in the box.He torments tight ends over the middle.He wallops wide receivers wherever they go.Its hard to find those guys, coach Gary Kubiak said. He gives us a lot of flexibility.And productivity.If you look at my numbers, Ward said, I think Im probably playing my best right now .Ward already has more pass breakups (7 vs. 6), forced fumbles (3 vs. 2) and fumble recoveries (1 vs. 0) than he did last year when he played a major role in the Broncos first Super Bowl championship since John Elway was leading the huddle instead of the front office.Hes been lights out, linebacker Brandon Marshall said. T.J., hes killing it. Hes having an All-Pro season. I told him the other day, `Im proud of you, man. Hes out here balling out. T.J.s focused, hes hungry, hes driven, hes making all kinds of plays, on the pass, on the run, hes everywhere.Wherever hes needed, man, he makes plays, at that position. T.J.s a hell of a safety. And we all knew that when he came in here. Hes killing it. And Im happy.The only thing Ward cant seem to do is explain it all.No, theyre not asking me to do more, its just -- I dont know what it is, Ward said. Maybe more opps. Im in more positions where Im able to make more plays. Maybe guys are talking to me more. I dont know what it is.Whatever it is, Im doing it.Thats for sure.According to the Broncos public relations staff, Ward is the first NFL defensive back since at least 1994 -- and maybe ever -- to have 35 tackles, three forced fumbles, a sack and an interception iin a single month.ddddddddddddThat was pretty surprising, Ward said of his eye-popping October. Amazing to me. But Ive just got to focus on what I can do better.Defensive backs coach Joe Woods said Wards versatility as a linebacker and safety allows the Broncos to mandate matchups rather than react to offensive formations.Some teams try to force teams to play certain ways. We try to make sure week to week that were going to dictate the matchups, Woods said. And when you have guys like T.J., it gives us that flexibility to create that matchup.That adjustability has allowed the Broncos to make up not only for the free agent loss of linebacker Danny Trevathan, but also for in-season adjustments when guys like rookie safety Justin Simmons has gotten hurt.Most NFL teams pick six captains in training camp. Not the Broncos, who pick three.Then, at the halfway point, the players vote to add three more, one each on offense, defense and special teams.For the second straight season, Wards teammates chose him to wear the C on his jersey, along with quarterback Trevor Siemian and linebacker Dekoda Watson.It feels good. It shows what my teammates think of me, Ward said. But regardless, Ill carry myself in the same manner. If I got it at the beginning of the season, end of the season, Im the same player, so thats what you get from me. It just shows that my teammates appreciate me.Free safety Darian Stewart, who matched Wards interception with one of his own last week against Philip Rivers on a day the two were featured on the Broncos program , said Ward is all over the field and relentless.Like a Tasmanian devil, said cornerback Chris Harris Jr. Thats what I call him. I call him `Taz. Hes acting crazy on the field. So, sometimes I have to calm him down a bit. But thats the type of fire we need.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '