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Jurrjens, Prado help Braves down Phillies

May 14, 2011 - 10:42 PM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jair Jurrjens carried a perfect game into the sixth inning and Martin Prado drove in three runs, as the Braves topped the Phillies, 5-3, to even their three-game series.

Jurrjens (5-0) gave up three runs (two earned) in 7 1/3 innings, allowing only three hits and a walk while striking out six.

It was the right-hander's second victory against the Phillies this week. He limited them to one run in 6 1/3 innings this past Sunday.

"Every game we win against the Phillies is a big one," Jurrjens said. "It's like winning a playoff game."

Prado and Nate McLouth hit back-to-back leadoff homers for Atlanta, which had dropped the series opener by a 5-4 score.

Joe Blanton (1-2) allowed two runs in five innings to take the loss. He gave up only five hits and walked one, but was not pitching with his normal velocity and endured a rough start.

Prado and McLouth began the home first by hitting sinkers in the zone to left and center field, respectively, making it a 2-0 game.

"(A) 1-0 count with the leadoff hitter, you're going to try to throw a strike," Blanton said of Prado's at-bat. "Usually everyone tries to throw one pretty much down the middle. First pitch I missed, and then just came back and tried to throw another strike and he hit it out."

Blanton settled down from there, holding the Braves off the scoreboard for the remainder of his start. But Jurrjens was masterful.

He retired the first 15 batters he faced, and got the first out of the sixth inning after a sharp grounder from Wilson Valdez bounced off his foot.

Jurrjens then struck out Dane Sardinha to get to the ninth spot in the Phillies' order. But he didn't face Blanton, who was pulled after throwing 74 pitches. Instead, he faced pinch-hitter Michael Martinez, who lined a single into center field to end Jurrjens' bid for a perfect game or no-hitter.

Martinez raced around to score when Jimmy Rollins followed with a double to the wall in right field, cutting the Phillies' deficit in half.

But their chances to tie the game in that inning ended when Rollins was caught in a rundown between second and third. And their chances of tying the game in subsequent at-bats became significantly harder after the Phillies bullpen couldn't hold the score in the bottom half.

J.C. Romero took over for Blanton and issued a one-out walk to Dan Uggla. Freddie Freeman then sent a ball to short and Rollins attempted to get the force out at second base, but Uggla was called safe on a close play.

The situation didn't get better for Philadelphia after Kyle Kendrick came in to pitch. He retired the first batter he faced, and had an opportunity to get the Phillies out of the inning when David Ross bunted up the third base line.

Kendrick, however, slid right over the ball as Uggla scored. He made matters worse by walking Jurrjens to load the bases, and Prado cashed in, lining a two-run single to center for a 5-1 lead.

Philadelphia plated two runs in the eighth -- Valdez hit an RBI double that ended Jurrjens' day, and later scored on John Mayberry Jr.'s groundout.

But Craig Kimbrel secured the win and picked up his ninth save with a scoreless ninth.

Game Notes

Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino left the game in the eighth inning with right hamstring soreness. He said he will miss Sunday's contest, but didn't think he suffered a significant injury...Prado hit his fifth career leadoff homer and first of 2011. He is also 11-for-23 in the first five games of Atlanta's current homestand...The Braves hit back-to-back homers for the first time this season.