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Braves send Jurrjens to hill to face Rockies

Jul 6, 2011 - 3:11 PM (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves have been flying under the radar even though they're just one of four teams with 50-plus wins.

The Braves can win their fourth series in five tries with a victory tonight versus the Colorado Rockies in the third installment of a four-game set from Turner Field. They have taken the first two tests of this series and are coming off Tuesday's 5-3 victory thanks to home runs from Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla.

"Colorado has got a good, dangerous team and our guys have held them to just a couple runs. Philly doesn't lose, everybody knows that, but we are only four games back," Uggla said after Atlanta's 12th win in 15 tries.

Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston and the New York Yankees are the only clubs with 50 or more victories this season.

Starting pitcher Derek Lowe prevailed on the mound despite allowing three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings, and even helped his own cause at the plate with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. Five relievers held the Rockies scoreless the rest of the way, with Craig Kimbrel notching his 26th save of the season. Kimbrel and Padres closer Heath Bell are tied for the major league lead in saves. Kimbrel also tied Jonathan Papelbon's rookie record for saves before the All-Star break.

Speaking of major league leaders, Braves starter Jair Jurrjens has an MLB-best 1.89 earned run average and will take the mound tonight searching for his 12th win of the season. Only Yankees ace CC Sabathia has 12 wins this season. Jurrjens has won three straight starts and is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last five starts. He recorded the first shutout of his career in a 4-0 win over Baltimore on Friday and allowed one hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Jurrjens has allowed two runs through his past three starts and is 11-3 in 15 starts this season. The right-hander is 6-1 in seven home starts this season and 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA in seven career starts against the Rockies.

Colorado did not have Carlos Gonzalez (wrist) or Troy Tulowitzki (quad) in last night's loss and both players are questionable for tonight. The Rockies were led by Mark Ellis' three hits in Tuesday's loss, while Charlie Blackmon and Chris Iannetta both knocked in runs for Colorado, losers in three straight and eight of 11 games. The Rockies have also lost five in a row on the road.

"I loved the effort considering how short-handed we are," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "We are just going to keep battling."

Rox staff ace Jhoulys Chacin allowed four runs on four hits while battling control problems with six walks to absorb the loss.

The Rockies are 0-2 on a seven-game road trip that concludes over the weekend against the Washington Nationals. Taking the mound for Colorado tonight will be Aaron Cook, who is still searching for his first win of the season. Cook is 0-3 with a 4.66 earned run average in five outings and did not record a decision in last Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Cook tossed six innings of one-run ball and walked four batters against the Pale Hose. In 11 career games (9 starts) against Atlanta, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA.

Colorado and Atlanta are meeting for the first time since the Rockies won four of six matchups a year ago. The Rockies have defeated Atlanta seven times over the previous 13 matchups between the two ballclubs.