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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, April 21, 2008

Atlanta sweeps L.A.

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens (2-2) struck out eight as the Braves got their first sweep of the Dodgers in eight years.

JOHN BAZEMORE | Associated Press

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ATLANTA — Move over, Andruw Jones. The fans in Willemstad, Curacao, may have a new favorite son.

Jair Jurrjens pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, striking out Jones three times, and the Atlanta Braves beat Los Angeles 6-1 yesterday for their first sweep of the Dodgers in eight years.

Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner with the Braves before signing with the Dodgers, was only the second major league player from Curacao. Jones followed Hensley Meulens, who played for the Yankees from 1989-93.

Jurrjens said he was a bat boy when his older brother and Jones played in an amateur league in Curacao. He said facing the star for the first time was a thrill.

"I try not to look at him because I know he's going to smile," Jurrjens said of Jones.

Jurrjens said he hasn't surpassed Jones as Curacao's new favorite player.

"No, I don't think so," he said. "I think he's still the biggest one back home."

Jurrjens (2-2), a rookie acquired by the Braves in an offseason trade that sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to Detroit, struck out a career-high eight.

"Every outing has been really good and he's only 22 years old," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's a good one."

Dodgers manager Joe Torre agreed.

"He's pretty impressive," Torre said of Jurrjens. "He locates well, and he has such command of his changeup."

Jurrjens' fastball was consistently clocked at about 95 miles per hour.

"That's the hardest he's thrown since he's been with us," Cox said.

Jurrjens said he wasn't throwing as hard in colder weather. "I didn't have a really good grip," he said.

Mark Teixeira was 3 for 4 with a homer and drove in three runs and Kelly Johnson added two hits with a homer.

The Braves gave up a total of only three runs in defeating the Dodgers three times. Atlanta's last sweep over Los Angeles came in a three-game set in April 2000.

Cubs 13, Pirates 6: Aramis Ramirez tied a career-high with four hits, including a two-run homer, and host Chicago beat Pittsburgh to complete its second three-game sweep of them this season. Ryan Theriot added four hits, scored three runs and drove in two as Chicago won for the 11th time in 14 games.

Reds 4, Brewers 3: Edwin Encarnacion and Paul Bako hit consecutive homers off Eric Gagne in the 10th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. followed with a run-scoring single for host Cincinnati. The Reds won for only the second time in their past nine games.

Phillies 5, Mets 4: Chase Utley hit two home runs and Pedro Feliz added a tiebreaking pinch-hit homer in the seventh to help host Philadelphia beat New York. Utley went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs and the Phillies won the finale of the three-game series and ended Philadelphia's four-game losing streak against the Mets.

Astros 6, Colorado 4: Kaz Matsui hit a two-run single in the eighth inning against his former team, helping host Houston end a three-game losing streak. Wesley Wright (2-0) worked the eighth and Jose Valverde got three outs for his second save.

Giants 8, Cardinals 2:Bengie Molina hit three doubles and drove in three runs, and visiting San Francisco beat St. Louis to win the season series 4-3. John Bowker hit his third career home run, all against the Cardinals, and Aaron Rowand drove in two runs as the Giants handed St. Louis its first series loss of the season.

Marlins 6, Nationals 1: Scott Olsen (3-0) allowed only three hits in seven innings and Hanley Ramirez hit two home runs for host Florida. Olsen gave up one run, won his third start in a row and lowered his ERA to 2.60.

Padres 9, Diamondbacks 4: Justin Huber connected off Randy Johnson (0-1) for his first career home run, ruining the Big Unit's second start and helping visiting San Diego snap a four-game losing streak. Johnson gave up six runs, four of them earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out six.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BLUE JAYS 5, TIGERS 3: David Eckstein hit a three-run homer as host Toronto beat Detroit. A.J. Burnett (2-1) issued a season-high six walks in five innings but still managed to win for the first time in four starts. He allowed three runs and four hits.

Mariners 4, Angels 2: Miguel Batista (2-2) scattered eight hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings, Richie Sexson hit a two-run homer and visiting Seattle avoided a three-game sweep. Batista struck out eight and walked one while lowering his ERA from 6.35 to 4.38.

Twins 2, Indians 1: Justin Morneau singled home Brendan Harris in the 10th, lifting host Minnesota to the win. Morneau is hitting a pedestrian .269 this season, but is 9 for 15 (.600) with 12 RBIs with runners in scoring position.

Red Sox 6, Rangers 5: Sean Casey's bases-loaded walk capped a four-run eighth inning and host Boston won for the eighth time in nine games. The Red Sox overcame a 5-0 deficit and have taken the first three in a four-game series that concludes today.

Yankees 7, Orioles 1: Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI double and scored before leaving with a leg injury, and visiting New York ended a three-game losing streak. Rodriguez strained his right quadriceps while running out a grounder in the sixth inning. The All-Star third baseman was listed as day to day.

White Sox 6, Rays 0: Jim Thome hit career homer No. 512 and John Danks (2-1) struck out eight in seven innings for visiting Chicago. Thome's second homer in the last three games tied him with Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for 19th place on the all-time list.

Athletics 7, Royals 1: Oakland battered rookie Luke Hochevar (0-1) to roll over visiting Kansas City. Kansas City managed just three hits and had 15 in the series to Oakland's 42. The Royals were outscored 26-8.