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Braves ace Jurrjens tries to shut down Nats

Jul 17, 2011 - 3:10 PM (Sports Network) - Already pacing the National League in wins with 12 and ERA with a 1.87 mark, Jair Jurrjens has been a stalwart on the mound for the Braves this season.

Today, the 25-year-old right-hander aims to bring Atlanta closer to first place in the NL East when he takes the mound in the rubber match of a three- game set with Washington.

Jurrjens has won his last four starts in spectacular fashion, giving up a total of three runs in that span, covering 26 1/3 innings for an ERA of 1.03. He's 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in nine games vs. the Nationals.

The effort of Jurrjens has certainly kept the Braves in the race for the NL East lead, although they lost last night and remained 3 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for first in the division.

John Lannan continued his recent success against Atlanta, pitching into the sixth inning and delivering an uncharacteristic two-run single in Washington's 5-2 victory at Turner Field.

Lannan (6-6), who was knocked out of his previous start, July 8 against Colorado, after taking a line drive to the face, allowed five hits and a pair of runs. He's 4-0 in five starts against the Braves since the beginning of the 2010 season.

"I just felt confident out there tonight, just tried to get past what happened last Saturday," Lannan said. "That was the main thing. I felt comfortable out there. I didn't have the sinker location that I wanted, but my offspeed pitches helped me out a little bit."

Lannan was hitless in 32 at-bats this season coming into Saturday's game, but went 2-for-3. He was a career 0.83 (16-for-192) hitter entering the contest with five RBI.

"I don't know what to say about that," Lannan said. "We have been taking a lot of BP [batting practice]. I've just been struggling up there. I wasn't really ever a really good hitter, but some days you just get pitches to hit."

Wilson Ramos belted a two-run homer and had three RBI for the Nationals, who were blown out, 11-1, in the opener of this series Friday night.

Tommy Hanson (10-5) saw his five-decision winning streak snapped, as he was charged with eight hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings. Hanson, who compiled eight strikeouts, lost for the first time since May 27 against Cincinnati.

"I made some mistakes and didn't get away with them," Hanson said. "I felt like I threw the ball pretty well. When I did make a mistake they whacked it. I don't think I was as crisp as I'd like to be. I just missed some spots, a couple balls found the hole and that blow was the two-run homer there in the end."

Tom Gorzelanny hasn't won since May 7 at Florida. The lefty will be on the hill today for the Nationals. Gorzelanny is 0-4 over his last seven outings. He's 2-1 in six games (4 starts) against the Braves.

The teams have split eight meetings this season.