Vogelsong tomahawked by Braves in 6-3 loss

AT&T PARK — Ryan Vogelsong has been his own worst enemy this season.

The 35-year-old is floundering in the Giants rotation, making his 14-9 record and 3.37 ERA in 2012 seem like a mirage.

For the second straight outing, Vogelsong failed to complete the 5th inning. He struggled through 4-1/3 innings Thursday night as he gave up six earned runs on seven hits, walked three, and struck out out seven.

Manager Bruce Bochy is concerned:

Giants manager Bruce Bochy

Video: CSN Bay Area

“He was throwing well as evidenced by the strikeouts. I do think the pitches caught up with him a little there in the fifth. When you’re at over 90 pitches in 4-1/3rd that’s hard work. I do think the pitches probably caught up with him.”

With just one quality start in his last seven outings, Vogelsong has watched his ERA balloon to a Major League-worst 7.78 among starting pitchers. He has also given up at least three earned runs in each appearance.

Vogelsong says he knows why he’s not getting the results:

Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong

Video: CSN Bay Area

“I’m just not making pitches when I need to, that’s all it comes down to. It just seems like lately when things start going bad, they hit the bad ones and the good ones and they find somewhere to go. I’ve just got to start making better pitches.”

Braves catcher Brian McCann had two hits including a two-run homer and had three RBIs as Atlanta took the opener of this four-game weekend series against the Giants, 6-3.

Rookie Julio Teheran pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out three to get the win. Closer Craig Kimbrel notched his 100th career save.

In the loss, Buster Posey also had two hits and hit a two-run blast to left center, driving in all three Giants runs.

Posey told reporters he hopes Vogelsong can get out of this rut:

Giants catcher Buster Posey

Video: CSN Bay Area

“When somebody’s struggling, the best case scenario is to be ahead in the count as much as possible. He had some good innings there at the beginning of the game. Hopefully he can take the positives out of it and carry it over to the next start.”

Marco Scutaro doubled to right in the first, scoring on a single to left by Posey.

Atlanta took the lead in the 2nd inning. Dan Uggla walked, then Brian McCann launched a Vogelsong fastball off the shingled roof of the arcade section over the 365-foot mark for his first home run of the season.

But the Giants answered back in the third.

With two outs, Pablo Sandoval singled to right. Posey grinded through a nine-pitch at-bat against Teheran, smashing a hanging slider into the left field bleachers for a 3-2 lead.

Jordan Schaefer tripled to right and scored on a grounder to short by Andrelton Simmons. Justin Upton tripled to the gap in deep right center and came home on a single to right by Freddie Freeman. After a walk to Uggla, Vogelsong was given the hook.

Jose Mijares came in but could not stop the bleeding, and the Braves would end up with four runs in the frame.

McCann’s infield single towards center was knocked down by Scutaro, but his inability to field the ball allowed Freeman to score all the way from second base. B.J. Upton capped the scoring with a single to center to bring in Uggla.

Schaefer — the 10th player to bat in the inning — finally struck out with the bases loaded.

Notes

Giants pitchers recorded 14 strikeouts, matching the team’s season high. … Posey hit all five home runs at home to go along with a .386 batting average. … Vogelsong tied his season high with seven strikeouts — but also leads the team in home runs allowed with nine. Matt Cain has also given up nine home runs to the opposition, tying both for second in the NL in home runs allowed. Milwaukee’s Marco Estrada has given up 11 home runs this season.