• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Braves send Jurrjens to hill to face Reds

May 29, 2011 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - Two early-season right-handed standouts match up under the lights tonight when the Cincinnati Reds close out a three-game holiday weekend series with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

The hosts send out Curacao-born Jair Jurrjens, who's won six of seven decisions in eight starts while allowing just 10 earned runs in 57 2/3 innings.

Jurrjens, who turned 25 in January, picked up win No. 6 on May 24 when he twirled 7 2/3 innings of scoreless six-hit ball with four strikeouts in Atlanta's 2-0 triumph. He's pitched seven innings or more in five of eight starts and allowed three runs or less in all eight chances.

Still, he's winless in four career starts against the Reds, going 0-3 with a 6.75 earned run average in 20 innings.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, will go with Dominican Johnny Cueto, who's got two victories in three decisions over four starts since returning from a spring training trip to the disabled list.

Cueto was a winner over Chicago and St. Louis in his initial two 2011 starts while giving up eight hits and three unearned runs in 13 2/3 innings. He dropped a 5-3 decision to Pittsburgh in start No. 3 on May 19 and got a no- decision after six innings of the Reds' 6-3 win at Philadelphia on May 24.

Cueto is 1-0 in three meetings with the Braves, striking out 15 and allowing seven runs in 18 1/3 innings.

The Braves pulled even in the series on Saturday when Chipper Jones singled home Jordan Schafer in the 12th inning for a 7-6 win. Brian McCann went 4- for-5 with a pair of solo homers. Freddie Freeman has three hits, including a solo home run, in Atlanta's third victory in four games.

Jonny Gomes had four hits and scored twice for the Reds. Drew Stubbs knocked in three runs, but grounded into a double play with two men on base in the top of the 12th.

In the bottom half, Carlos Fisher (0-2) walked Schaefer and Martin Prado before Jones grounded a single through the right side. The throw to the plate was late, as the Braves evened the three-game series with the finale set for Sunday night.

Scott Linebrink (1-1) pitched the final two innings to get the victory.

The Braves won three of five matchups versus the Reds last year, winning both meetings in Atlanta.