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Braves seek three-game sweep of Dodgers

Apr 20, 2008 - 2:21 PM LA Dodgers (7-10) at Atlanta (8-9) 1:30 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - After it appeared their pitching needed to be addressed during a recent losing streak, the Atlanta Braves have used their rotation to ignite a season-long winning streak.

The Braves eye their fourth straight win on Sunday when they attempt to sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time in nearly eight years.

After allowing 15 runs during a three-game losing streak, Atlanta has allowed just two runs during their three-game winning streak, including Saturday's 4-1 victory over Los Angeles. Chuck James permitted just one run over five innings in place of the injured Tom Glavine while Mark Teixeira had two hits and drove in two runs in the win.

In an effort to notch their first series sweep over the Dodgers since April 25-27, 2000, the Braves will turn to Jair Jurrjens (1-2, 2.93 ERA), who was acquired as part of the deal for shortstop Edgar Renteria in the offseason from the Detroit Tigers.

In his last turn on Tuesday, the righthander surrendered two runs and four hits over six frames in a 4-0 loss to the Florida Marlins.

His counterpart on the mound will be Hiroki Kuroda (1-1, 2.89), who will be looking to snap the Dodgers' two-game slide. The righthander allowed three runs and seven hits over six innings but did not factor in the decision during Monday's 6-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.