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Braves return to action in opener vs. Nats

Aug 30, 2011 - 3:16 PM (Sports Network) - With the Braves approaching the final month of the season, they hope their recent extended time off won't leave the club rusty as it tries to secure a second straight playoff berth.

Set to take the field for the first time since Friday, Atlanta kicks off a three-game series tonight with the Washington Nationals at Turner Field.

The Braves have been idle since a 6-0 setback to the Mets on Friday, just their second loss in nine games, as Hurricane Irene forced the postponement of Saturday and Sunday's game. Both Atlanta and New York will give up an off day on Sept. 8 to play a doubleheader.

Not much ground was lost or gained in the National League East as the first- place Phillies also saw their weekend washed out due to the hurricane and the Braves enter this series 6 1/2 games behind the club. In addition, Atlanta holds a nine-game lead over the Giants for the wild card berth.

The Braves have had plenty of time to think about their lopsided loss to the Mets four days ago, but second baseman Dan Uggla said that his club could have used the time off.

"I think it's going to be well needed because we've had one day off since the break," Uggla told Atlanta's website on Saturday. "I'm sure everybody is going to enjoy these next couple days."

Atlanta's altered rotation will now send Jair Jurrjens out for tonight's opener as he takes the hill for the first time since he picked up his first win since July 6 last Monday. The right-hander threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings to beat the Cubs, working around eight hits and five walks. It was his second start since returning from the disabled list and lowered his second-half earned run average to 5.35.

Jurrjens, who got out of two bases-loaded jams versus the Cubs, posted a 1.87 ERA prior to the All-Star break and is 13-5 with a 2.71 ERA in 22 starts this year. A victory tonight would match the 25-year-old's career high set in 2009.

Jurrjens last faced Washington on Aug. 1, giving up five runs over five innings before being shelved for two weeks due to injury. He is 3-3 with a 4.27 ERA lifetime in this series.

The Nationals, meanwhile, return to action following a tough loss in Cincinnati on Sunday. Washington scored in both the eighth and ninth innings to force extra innings, but squandered some late opportunities before dropping a 5-4 decision in 14 innings on Joey Votto's homer.

Ian Desmond hit into an unassisted double play with the bases loaded in the 10th frame, wasted a first-and-second situation the following inning and left Brian Bixler stranded at third in the 12th after he hit a triple. That led to Washington dropping a season high-tying sixth consecutive game.

"This is just a tough one to lose," said Washington manager Davey Johnson, whose club went 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

Johnson will turn tonight to veteran Livan Hernandez, who has pitched to a 6.23 ERA over his past four starts, picking up a win and two losses in that span. That includes a home defeat to Arizona on Wednesday after the 36-year- old yielded four runs over 7 1/3 innings in what was his longest outing since a three-hit shutout of the Cardinals on June 15.

"In my mind if he gives me seven (innings) I'm getting him out of there," Johnson said of Hernandez. "I balked. We got in trouble and couldn't get out of it."

The right-hander fell to 7-12 with a 4.36 ERA this year and is just 2-8 with a 5.18 ERA in 13 road starts. He beat the Braves on Aug. 1 with six innings of one-run ball after dropping his first two starts against them this year.

Washington has held its own with Atlanta so far this year, splitting 12 overall meetings and six at Turner Field.