Jair Jurrjens allowed four runs in four innings as the Yankees defeated the Braves, 5-4.
Jurrjens walked two to lead off the game, but he was able to pitch around it with three straight outs. He struck out the side in the second around a HBP, including a punch out of Jesus Montero.
Jurrjens ran into trouble in the third. A bunt single started the inning for the Yankees, followed by a force out at second on a bad bunt. Nick Swisher singled to put runners on the corners, and Curtis Granderson followed with a belted triple to center field to drive home both. Jorge Posada followed with a single to bring Granderson home. A double, single, sac fly brought home a run in the fourth for four total.
Jurrjens was up and down throughout. He had trouble hitting spots in the first but was almost perfect in the second. He left the ball up the entire third inning, especially the fastball, and it continued in the fourth. A bit inconsistent, but Jurrjens is prone to this at times.
George Sherrill allowed a soft single and lined single in the fifth, but neither scored. The only real mistake was to Granderson, which is multiplied because he's a lefty. Scott Linebrink had a similar inning, allowing a soft single and harder single that brought home a run. Nothing too concerning.
Peter Moylan was perfect in the seventh, striking out the side against minor leaguers. Scott Proctor pitched a scoreless eighth with two flyouts and a popout. Craig Kimbrel pitched a quick and perfect ninth.
The Braves didn't manage much on offense. Yankees starter Freddy Garcia left after three innings under his pitch limit, not allowing any hits or walks. Chipper Jones had a pretty weak day, going 0-3 with a double play and strikeout. Dan Uggla reached twice on a single and walk. Martin Prado doubled and hit the ball well all day. Eric Hinske drove in two runs on a single. Matt Young went 0-3.
The Braves loaded the bases with no outs and down two in the ninth, but Shawn Bowman grounded into a double play to bring home one. With the tying run on third and two outs, Jose Constanza popped out on a bunt to end the game. That's a new one for me.