News
Jurrjens stellar again as Braves roll
Right-hander allows one run over seven innings in win
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
09/23/09 1:22 AM ET
NEW YORK -- Braves manager Bobby Cox has spent the past couple of weeks saying that Jair Jurrjens should be bidding for a 20-win season. Showing his advanced sense of maturity, Jurrjens has chosen to look at each of his tough-luck losses and no-decisions as starts during which he simply didn't do enough to help Atlanta win.While delivering yet another stellar effort that guided the Braves to a 3-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday night, Jurrjens provided his teammates a chance to keep their postseason hopes alive and also further proved why he deserves to at least be mentioned in any conversations regarding the National League Cy Young Award.
"I don't think JJ had his best stuff tonight," Cox said. "He gutted it out for seven strong innings. He's that kind of guy. He seldom goes out there without his best stuff. Tonight it was OK, not great. But look what he did."
After limiting the Mets to one run and five hits, Jurrjens found himself with an impressive 2.70 ERA, which, entering Tuesday, would have ranked fourth in the NL. Still, despite winning each of his past three starts, the 23-year-old right-hander finds himself with just 13 victories, a total that is shaded by those posted by Cardinals right-hander's Adam Wainwright (18) and Chris Carpenter (16).
"It's really unfortunate that he's had some bad luck this year, from the standpoint that he hasn't been able to finish starts because of rain and suffered from a lack of run support, or else he'd definitely be in the running for the Cy Young," Chipper Jones said. "I don't think that it's a stretch to say with a little luck, he'd have 18 wins right now."
Jurrjens, who has suffered two of his losses in rain-shortened outings limited to two innings, didn't find himself in unchartered waters while going up against Mets starter Nelson Figueroa, who limited the Braves to two runs and two hits in seven innings. While Jurrjens has been on the mound this year, he's received an average of 3.1 runs.
But the limited offensive support that he was once again afforded proved to be just enough courtesy of the decisive two-run fourth-inning single delivered by Yunel Escobar. Unable to swing because of a foul ball that had hit his left hand in the second inning, Brian McCann provided a sacrifice bunt that put Martin Prado and Jones in position to score on Escobar's game winner.
"Escobar got the big blow, but there wasn't much hitting to talk about on either side," said Cox, whose team sits five games back of the Rockies in the NL Wild Card race.
Jurrjens has now allowed two earned runs or less in 24 of his 32 starts. But this marked just the 11th time that he's done so and been rewarded with a victory.
"It's amazing," Cox said. "That's in high-quality company for me. ... He's a tough-tough competitor. He's a lot like the guys from the past that have come through here."
Evoking memories of the mental toughness often displayed by Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, Jurrjens escaped a seventh-inning jam that was aided by the fact that Escobar had mistakenly cut Garret Anderson's seemingly pinpoint throw from left field. Consequently, Brian Schneider was awarded a double that gave the Mets runners at second and third base with just one out.
Two pitches later, Jurrjens lessened the threat by getting pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis to foul out to the first-base side of the infield.
"I never had any doubt that he'd make quality pitches in that situation," Jones said. "He made one good pitch, got a pop up and it seemed like it was really deflating to them. That was there one opportunity to get the game tied or go ahead possibly. He made two good pitches and got two outs."
Jurrjens killed the threat when he got pinch-hitter Cory Sullivan to hit a harmless fly ball to center. When the ball landed in Nate McLouth's glove, the young hurler had ended his evening and secured the first of his season goals with the completion of 200 innings.
"That's a time for me to personally get a 'W' and help the team stay in front," Jurrjens said. "I knew that was my last inning and I wanted to try to keep the team in with the lead. For me, I wanted to get to 200 innings today and I did it. I accomplished one of my goals for this year."
During his final two starts, Jurrjens will have the opportunity to accomplish his other two goals -- notching 15 wins and keeping his ERA below 3.00.
Still, regardless of whether he achieves each of these goals or gains appropriate attention in Cy Young discussions, Jurrjens will be able to walk away from this season knowing he gained definite respect around the league.
"He adds and subtracts on his fastball so well," Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "It reminds me a little bit of what Pedro [Martinez] used to do so well. One pitch is at 93, the next pitch is at 88. He just has an idea of what he wants to do."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
