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Braves' Jurrjens seeks to handle the Padres again at Petco

Jun 25, 2011 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - Braves starter Jair Jurrjens has struggled going deep into the game over his past couple of outings. That certainly wasn't the case when he last faced the Padres.

Jurrjens takes his shot at a major league-leading 10th victory of the season this evening while also looking to get Atlanta back on track after it was blown out by San Diego in the opener of this three-game set at Petco Park.

The 25-year-old Jurrjens has lasted just 5 1/3 innings in consecutive outings, losing to the Mets on June 14 after yielding four runs on eight hits and five walks. He labored again on Sunday versus the Rangers, but was able to claim a victory as he minimized the damage to a run on eight hits and two walks.

"They really didn't make it easy on me," Jurrjens told Atlanta's website of Texas' offense. "That got two strikes and kept shortening their swings. They were fouling off really tough pitches. It's a really good lineup, and you don't really want to groove one in there and make it a big game."

The right-hander is 9-3 with a 2.11 earned run average in 13 starts this season and is one of four nine-game winners taking the mound today. He could be the first to 10 victories if he mirrors his last outing versus the Padres when he pitched the lone complete game of his career at San Diego on April 26. Jurrjens scattered two runs and nine hits in that one, moving to 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in five career games versus the Padres.

Atlanta also hopes for vintage Jurrjens tonight after dropping last night's opener, 11-2. San Diego rookie Anthony Rizzo had a pair of doubles and scored three runs, while Ryan Ludwick, Cameron Maybin, Alberto Gonzalez and Jesus Guzman all drove in two runs each.

The 12-hit attack was more than enough for Tim Stauffer, who hurled seven innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts to get the win, San Diego's third straight since a six-game slide.

"It was a lot of fun to be a part of," Stauffer said. "It's good to see some results of some guys who have been hitting the ball pretty well. It was good to see some of the breaks go our way and it was just fun to be a part of."

Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer for the Braves, who had a four-game win streak snapped and fell five games back of the first-place Phillies in the National League East. Derek Lowe surrendered five runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.

"It was a frustrating game because they weren't hitting the cover off the ball, but they were getting hits and runs," Lowe said.

Dustin Moseley proved sharp in his last outing in a return from a partial dislocation of his non-throwing shoulder and he'll try to push his unbeaten streak to six straight starts this evening for the Padres.

Moseley has only won once since his last loss on May 18 and pitched for the first time in 11 days on Sunday at Minnesota. The righty did well, allowing three runs -- one earned -- on three hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings, but did not factor into a 5-4 loss.

Moseley is 2-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 14 starts this season and that includes an outing against the Braves on April 25. Facing the club for the first time, the 29-year-old yielded three runs over six innings in a no-decision.

The Padres have won three of their last four versus the Braves and four of the seven meetings so far this season.