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Jurrjens, McCann power Braves to easy win over Dodgers

Jul 9, 2008 - 6:49 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributuing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Looking to respond from a dismal showing, the Atlanta Braves unleashed their offense.

Rookie Jair Jurrjens tossed six strong innings and Brian McCann homered twice Tuesday, propelling the Braves to a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yunel Escobar drove in three runs and Mark Teixeira added a homer for the Braves, who bounced back from being one-hit by Hiroki Kuroda on Monday by hammering out 12 hits on Tuesday.

"We've shown that we can score runs; we've shown that we can play offense correctly," said Braves center fielder Mark Kotsay, who had three hits and two runs scored. "We wouldn't be where we're at not scoring runs."

Jurrjens (9-4) put together another strong outing, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six and walking three over six innings. The righthander rebounded from his only loss over his last 10 outings with his fifth victory in his last six decisions.

McCann's two solo blasts gave him 17 home runs for the season and came just two days after he was named an All-Star for the third straight year.

"McCann's a great hitter; he's got some pop and he showed it today," Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley said.



However, McCann was less concerned with his individual accomplishments and more upbeat over the fact that the Braves - who have had 15 players spend time on the disabled list - are getting healthy at the same time.



"We're in a good state right now, everyone is (getting) healthy," McCann said. "This is our lineup. This is the lineup we broke spring training with, so we're all excited."



Chipper Jones and Kotsay have returned to the lineup after missing time because of various injuries. Joining them for this game was Jeff Francoeur, who was recalled from Class AA Mississippi after he was optioned just three days earlier.

The Braves were able to break through against Billingsley (8-8) after loading the bases in the fifth.

Kelly Johnson and Kotsay singled to open the inning for the first hits of the night. Following a strikeout, Gregor Blanco walked to bring up Escobar, who nailed the first pitch down the third-base line for a bases-clearing double.

"Escobar had the big hit and we just started rolling from there," McCann said.

Atlanta padded the lead one inning later when McCann led off the sixth with a solo shot. Blanco followed five batters later with a two-run single, staking the Braves to a 6-0 lead.

"Offense is contagious," Kotsay said. "It just carried over and the rest of the lineup continued to swing the bats."

Billingsley lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs - five earned - and six hits with four walks and eight strikeouts to take the loss, snapping his four-start winning streak.

"The first four innings, I was able to get ahead of hitters," Billingsley said. "After that, I found myself getting behind and they made me throw a hitter's pitch. It's tough to pitch like that."

James Loney finally got the Dodgers on the board with a double that scored Andre Ethier in the sixth to make it 6-1.

McCann's second shot, to deep right, came with the game well in hand in the ninth. One pitch after Teixeira connected off Los Angeles reliever Cory Wade, McCann turned on a fastball and sent it into the Braves' bullpen to make it 9-1.

Julian Tavarez made his Braves debut and surrendered two runs while recording just one out in the ninth before closer Mike Gonzalez stopped any chance of a Dodgers rally by striking out Angel Berroa and Matt Kemp to end the game.