Braves starter Jair Jurrjens pitched six innings in a rehab start for AAA Gwinnett on Monday. He allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three.
After a scoreless first inning, Jurrjens allowed a run in the second when a single set up a RBI double by Nick Green. He followed that with a walk but left both on. He gave up a leadoff walk in the third but the runner was caught stealing.
Jurrjens was met by a solo homer from Nolan Reimold to lead off the fourth. After Josh Bell doubled, Jurrjens set down the next three to strand him at second. He ended the day with a scoreless fifth and sixth.
Jurrjens threw 81 pitches and 48 for strikes in six innings. He had nine groundouts to four flyouts. The four hits in six innings looks good until you see three of the four were for extra bases, but overall it wasn't a bad outing.
Jurrjens' rehab start was the result of a strained oblique suffered during Spring Training. He has yet to make a start in 2011, as Mike Minor made a spot start for him in Milwaukee. With a successful outing tonight, he is on track to make his season debut for Atlanta on Saturday against the Mets.