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Jurrjens, Braves visit Cincinnati

Jul 22, 2011 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - Jair Jurrjens tries to become the National League's first 13-game winner this evening when the Atlanta Braves open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Jurrjens, though, was hit hard in his last start by the Washington Nationals, allowing six runs and eight hits in five innings. However, he did not get a decision, as his team rallied for a 9-8 win, but Jurrjens did see his earned run average rise to a still NL-low 2.26

"You want to get it out of your system and start a good stretch," Jurrjens said.

It was the first time this season that Jurrjens failed to pitch into the sixth inning and the six runs allowed were a season high.

"He just couldn't get his breaking ball over," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It was just one of those things. Over 35 starts, every once in a while you're going to get one of those."

Jurrjens beat the Reds earlier in the year, but is just 1-3 against them with a 5.14 ERA in five starts.

The Braves come into tonight's series opener on the heels of splitting a four- game series with the Colorado Rockies. Atlanta pulled out a win in Thursday's finale, as Brooks Conrad homered and Nate McLouth added an RBI triple as part of a four-run seventh inning in the Braves' 9-6 win.

A beneficiary of the late rally, Tommy Hanson (11-5) earned the win despite allowing a season-high six runs in as many innings. Craig Kimbrel worked around a walk in the ninth inning to earn his 30th save, tying a club rookie record for most rescues in a season.

"It was a fun game and a wild series from start to finish," said Conrad. "It's good to split but obviously we could have played better. But this is a tough place to play games and we'll take it."

Cincinnati, meanwhile, dropped two of three to the upstart Pittsburgh Pirates, but salvaged the finale of that three-game set on Wednesday with a 3-1 win.

Jay Bruce went 2-for-2 and scored a run, while Joey Votto, Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cairo each had an RBI for the Reds, who had been blanked by the surprising Pirates in the first two games of the set.

"We were going to try to score a run any way we could early," manager Dusty Baker said. "Especially with the fact they don't give up a lot of runs, especially here in their ballpark."

Jonny Cueto (6-3) picked up his first win since beating the Mets June 22. Cueto went six innings, surrendering just one run on four hits while fanning four.

Tonight, the Reds turn to righty Bronson Arroyo, who is 7-8 with a 5.57 ERA. Arroyo lost his second straight decision on Saturday to St. Louis, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

He is 6-3 lifetime against the Braves with a 5.70 ERA in 14 game, 13 of which have been starts. Arroyo was roughed up by Atlanta back on May 28 when he was hit for five runs and nine hits in three innings of a 7-6 loss.

Atlanta took two of three from the Reds earlier the year.