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Jurrjens throws one-hit shutout vs. Orioles

Jul 2, 2011 - 3:08 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jair Jurrjens flirted with a perfect game in throwing the first shutout of his career to help Atlanta take a 4-0 win over Baltimore in the opener of a three-game set.

Jurrjens (11-3) gave up just one hit and one walk while fanning eight batters to become the first 11-game winner in the National League.

"It was a really nice, easy game for me out there tonight," said Jurrjens. "It's always good to have one of those games, just getting in and out, in and out, keeping the defense off the field. I just kept throwing strikes there and let the defense do the rest."

Jason Heyward hit his first home run in over two months, a two-run shot in the sixth, while Jordan Schafer had two hits and two runs scored for the Braves, who have won four straight.

Jeremy Guthrie (3-10) was tagged with the loss as he gave up four runs -- three earned -- on six hits over seven-plus innings for the Orioles, who have dropped their past four games.

"He's pitched well all year over there so we know we were facing a challenge," said Guthrie about Jurrjens. "He's just been dominating lately and he showed that again tonight."

Jurrjens, who lowered his earned run average to 1.89, carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, but it ended on the first at-bat as Mark Reynolds drew a walk. Robert Andino then flied out and Guthrie reached base on a fielder's choice. Guthrie was awarded second base on a balk by Jurrjens, but J.J. Hardy grounded out to end the inning.

Of course, the Atlanta bats weren't exactly setting the world on fire as the team had just one walk and one single through the first five frames.

That changed in the sixth, though, as Schafer hit a one-out single and Heyward followed by drilling a high fastball over the wall in center for a 2-0 lead.

The no-hit bid of Jurrjens was broken up with one out in the seventh when Adam Jones singled up the middle. He later stole second with two outs, but Derrek Lee struck out swinging to end the frame.

Atlanta padded its lead in the eighth with two runs. An RBI single by Chipper Jones scored Schafer and Freddie Freeman followed with a grounder back to first that saw Lee throw the ball to second for the potential double play, but the ball hit off the helmet of Jones and Heyward scored for a 4-0 lead.

Jurrjens struck out pinch-hitter Vladimir Guerrero to start the ninth and Hardy flied out. Nick Markakis then stepped to the plate with one last chance to keep his career-high 19-game hitting streak intact, but he flied out to left to end the game.

Game Notes

It was Heyward's first home run since April 29...Jurrjens is 6-1 at home this season...The last time these teams met was in June of 2009 when the Orioles took two of three in Baltimore...Before the game, the Orioles recalled pitcher Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie.