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Jurrjens, Braves crush Rockies

Jun 17, 2008 - 4:52 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Rookie pitcher Jair Jurrjens cruised into the eighth inning without giving up a run and Chipper Jones belted a two-run single to push the Atlanta Braves to their third win in four games, a 7-1 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Jurrjens (7-3) retired the first seven batters he faced in order for a smooth start to his seventh win of the season, tops among rookies in the major league. He struck out seven in 7 2/3 innings, the longest outing of his young career, and gave up eight hits.

"I feel like I got my changeup back today. I was able to throw really good ones when I needed to," Jurrjens said. "I just kept pitching and kept my composure, trying to limit the damage (from the base hits)."

Jones snapped an 0-for-12 streak at the plate to spur a three-run fifth inning, lacing a one-out single with the bases loaded off Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-7) to open the scoring. Mark Teixeira added to the lead in the inning, beating out the throw at first base on a double-play attempt and allowing Johnson to score.

Hitless in three of his previous five games, Jones went 2-for-4 and raised his major league-best batting average to .403.

Jeff Francoeur and rookie Brandon Jones drove in two runs apiece for the Atlanta, which is the worst road team in the majors with just 10 wins away from Turner Field this season.

The Braves secured the game in the seventh when Francoeur hit a two-out, two-run double off reliever Matt Herges.

"Frenchy (Francoeur), adding those fourth and fifth runs were huge," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "We didn't exactly drive the ball anywhere, but neither did they. I can't say enough about the entire five-man rotation right now."

Brandon Jones drove in another two runs in the ninth with his second hit of the night to extend the lead to 7-0.

Colorado avoided the shutout when Scott Podsednik hit an RBI single to plate Chris Iannetta in the bottom of the inning. Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins finished with two hits apiece, and Brad Hawpe added a triple.

Jimenez allowed four hits and two earned runs in five innings. His blazing fastball helped notch seven strikeouts, but he also walked five batters en route to his sixth straight loss.

"It was just a mixed bag (for Jimenez)," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "The biggest difference was pitch efficiency."

The Braves made a layover at Coors Field amid a 10-day road trip to make up the April 10 game that was postponed due to snow. The Rockies had won the first three games of that series.

"That might have kept us from getting swept in this series. We got a reprieve," Chipper Jones said. "I was looking to drive the ball, get it into the outfield and give our pitcher some wiggle room."