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Burnett pitches Blue Jays past Braves

Jun 29, 2008 - 11:01 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- After a slow start this season, A.J. Burnett appears to be settling into a groove for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Burnett struck out a season-high 11 over seven dominant innings as the Blue Jays blanked the Atlanta Braves, 1-0, on Sunday to win two of three games in a rematch of the 1992 World Series won by Toronto.

Burnett (8-7) outdueled Jo-Jo Reyes (3-6), scattering four hits while overcoming four walks. He stranded the potential tying run on third in the seventh inning by striking out Brandon Jones and rookie Brent Lillibridge.

"I felt good the whole time out there," Burnett said. "I had a really good fastball today with a lot of jump. The curveball was short and right. I didn't bounce many and that shows you that it was good."

It was the second straight strong outing for the righthander, who allowed one run and four hits over eight innings in a 14-1 rout of the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Prior to those two starts, Burnett's ERA had ballooned to 5.42.

"Just outstanding," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "He pitched one heck of a ballgame today."

Reyes matched Burnett until the sixth, when Marco Scutaro singled with one out and scored on Alex Rios' double. Reyes surrendered six hits in seven frames.

"Reyes pitched great," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He was ahead of the hitters. He hit his spots. He wasn't hit very hard at all. We didn't have too many chances, a few, but we couldn't get that one big hit."

The only time the Braves got a runner to third against Burnett was in the seventh. He walked two in the fourth, but induced Greg Norton to ground into an inning-ending double play.

"When he's on, he's hard to hit," Cox added. "he's going to get his strikeouts."

Scott Downs worked around a hit in the eighth and B.J. Ryan struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Jones made a bid to tie the game, but his drive was caught by left fielder Brad Wilkerson against the wall for the final out.

The Braves also threatened in the eighth, but Downs got Brian McCann to ground out to leave runners on first and second. Downs extended his scoreless innings streak to 26, the longest current stretch in the major leagues.

The Braves suffered their 23rd straight one-run loss on the road, extending their major league record. They have won a one-run game away from home since August 9 of last season against the New York Mets.

"We're pitching awesome," McCann said. "That's the frustrating part. Our pitching staff is giving us a chance to win almost every night."