THE RESULT: Jair Jurrjens came off the disabled list, after getting hit around in three minor league rehab starts, and shut down the Washington Nationals for five innings. He also collected an RBI-single in the fourth inning to give his team an insurance run -- which it did not need.
The end result was a 4-1 win for the Atlanta Braves before 20,091 Turner Field.
One night after the Nationals appeared to awaken from their month-long slump, they went right back to the form that ruined their June, making outs with runners in scoring position like it was the intended result.
Jurrjens (1-3) gave up one earned run on six hits and two walks. He struck out six in the effort. Four relievers pitched two-hit ball for the final four innings.
The Nationals went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. That's really all that can be said. But the Nats tried to explain afterwards.
"Our hitters said [Jurrjens'] ball was really just rushing up on them," Manager Jim Riggleman said after the game.
"[Jurrjens] was just really sharp for his first start back up in the big leagues," Dunn said on the post-game. "Seems like every night we run into a guy that's pitching real well."
J.D. Martin (0-4) struggled a bit, but kept his team in the game for the most part. He went five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out just two.
In the sixth, the Nats loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn, and a Josh Willingham walk. Unfortunately, Ivan Rodriguez ground into a double play on the first pitch from reliever Peter Moylan.
Cristian Guzman followed with a walk to put runners on the corners, but Alberto Gonzalez couldn't duplicate his magic from last night and struck out to end the inning.
When a team is going this bad it can't afford to miss on its few opportunities, but that's exactly what the Nats did repeatedly tonight, and the entire month it seems.
The Braves, however, got their fourth run of the game in seventh inning without registering a base hit, courtesy of two hit batters and a pair of walks, the last by Miguel Batista forcing in a run.
Batista then struck out Yunel Escobar to end the frame, and as he left the mound he inexplicably pumped his fist in triumph.
The most interesting part of the game came in the bottom of the seventh.
Riggleman pinch-hit Ian Desmond for the pitcher spot in the top of the inning, then sent the shortstop out to right field for defense. After the first batter, he switched Desmond and Alberto Gonzalez, who started the game at short.
It was a bizarre sequence in an otherwise forgettable game.
THE GOOD: Adam Dunn. He went 2-for-4.
THE BAD: Roger Bernadina went 0-for-3 and left four runners on base.
THE UGLY: Batista. What a total lack of awareness to pump his fist on the strikeout after walking a run in.
NEXT GAME: The Nationals return home Thursday to face the New York Mets in a four-game series. Livan Hernandez (6-4) takes on Johan Santana (5-5) at 7:05 pm.
NOTES: John Lannan made his second AA start for Harrisburg and was roughed up for six earned runs, 10 hits and three walks in five innings.
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