News
Improved strength benefits Jurrjens
Cincinnati (61-73) at Atlanta (70-65), 7:00 p.m. ET
By Jon Cooper / Special to MLB.com
09/05/09 2:29 AM ET
ATLANTA -- Please do not judge Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens by wins alone.Heading into Saturday night, his first start of September, Jurrjens is one win behind last year's pace, when he led the team with 13 wins, but he is a better pitcher now than he was then.
The way he handled August this year vs. last year proves that.
In 2008, the dog days hit Jurrjens hard. He was 1-3, with a 5.73 ERA (21 earned runs in 33 innings). He allowed at least three earned runs in each but one of his six starts, including a nightmare outing against Florida, where he allowed six earned runs in three innings, his shortest outing of the season.
In 2009, Jurrjens turned the tables, despite again only winning one August game.
After back-to-back poor outings against Los Angeles, where he allowed eight earned runs on 17 hits in 9 1/3 innings, Jurrjens surrendered a total of eight runs (seven earned for a 2.60 ERA) in his final four starts, covering 27 2/3 innings.
Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell believes that Jurrjens' getting stronger as August went on was due to his getting stronger, period.
"He worked very hard over the winter to gain strength so that he would be strong this time of the year," said McDowell. "He's continued that work ethic throughout the course of the year, just maintaining the strength."
Jurrjens agrees, adding that his adherence to his off-day workouts also helped.
"Last year, I would skip a day then run. This year, I've been more on a straight basic line," he said
Jurrjens also noted his increased mental toughness in battling for a playoff spot. Atlanta enters Saturday five games back in the National League Wild Card race, while in 2008, by the first weekend of September, the Braves were already 19 1/2 games behind eventual Wild Card winner Milwaukee.
"Last year, we were out of it. This year, we have a chance to make the playoffs," said Jurrjens, who'll enter Saturday's game with a 2.89 ERA, the ninth lowest in the Major Leagues. "Mentally you're more prepared. You make sure you stay on your work. Every game right now for us is really big. I try to take it like it's a playoff game already."
Pitching matchupATL: RHP Jair Jurrjens (10-9, 2.89 ERA)
Jurrjens has been saddled by bad luck throughout this season. On 13 different occasions, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer and been denied victory. Adding to his string of misfortune, the 23-year-old right-hander limited the Reds to one run in two innings on June 16 and was handed a loss when rain prevented him from continuing his start. Jurrjens is 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA during his past four starts. CIN: RHP Kip Wells (0-3, 5.48 ERA)
Wells labored through six innings of a no-decision won by the Reds, 3-2, over the Pirates in Game 1 of a Monday doubleheader. The right-hander had command issues and allowed four walks but just two hits. But he got it together in time to retire his final eight batters before exiting with 107 pitches. Wells is 1-3 with a 3.47 ERA lifetime against Atlanta, and is 0-2 with a 2.67 ERA at Turner Field. Tidbits
Braves pitcher Tim Hudson was honored prior to the game as the team's nominee for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award. It is the fourth straight season that Hudson has won the award. ... Manager Bobby Cox was ejected in the bottom of the fourth inning Friday by home-plate umpire Brian Gorman for arguing the out call made on Yunel Escobar for runner's interference. It was his record 150th career ejection. ... Escobar had to leave the game with a sprained right ankle.
Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday
Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
• SPSO On radio
• 640 WGST, Project 9-6-1 Up next
• Sunday: Reds (Johnny Cueto, 9-10, 4.51) at Braves (Tim Hudson, 1-0, 3.38), 1:30 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Braves (Javier Vazquez, 11-9, 3.18) at Astros (Felipe Paulino, 2-7, 6.62), 8:05 p.m. ET
Jon Cooper is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
