Jurrjens’ pitching, batting leads Braves past Rockies 4-3

Jurrjens’ arm, bat figure in Braves’ victory

DENVER — Jair Jurrjens pitched six strong innings and singled twice to drive in a run and score a run, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Saturday night.

Jurrjens (7-7) won for just the second time in his last eight starts with the help of his bat and arm. He had taken five losses in that span, including four in which he received two or fewer runs in offensive support.

Rafael Soriano, the last of five Braves pitchers, allowed a bloop single to Seth Smith to start the ninth inning but then struck out the side for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.

Trailing 4-0, the Rockies rallied to within one with a three-run seventh. Troy Tulowitzki connected off Jurrjens for his 15th homer of the season. Ian Stewart followed with a double off the center-field wall, finishing Jurrjens, who went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Peter Moylan relieved and struck out Chris Iannetta, but Smith delivered an RBI single and pinch-hitter Garrett Atkins singled, moving Smith to third, where he scored on a passed ball.

Colorado starter Jason Marquis (11-6) went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits but was denied in his bid for a major league-leading 12th win.

Marquis retired the first three batters he faced to extend his scoreless inning streak to 18 before seeing it come to an end in the second, when the Braves scored twice. Brian McCann doubled to start the inning, and with two outs, Brooks Conrad beat out an infield single scoring McCann. Diory Hernandez singled and Jurrjens, helping his own cause, singled to drive in Brooks.

Jurrjens scored the Braves third run after singling to lead off the fifth. Martin Prado singled and Chipper Jones walked to load the bases before McCann lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring Jurrjens home. McCann added a second sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Ryan Church started in right field for the Braves a day after he was acquired from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Jeff Francoeur. Church went 0 for 4, but made a nice running catch near the wall of a fifth-inning drive by Seth Smith.

NOTES: The Braves announced that RHP Javier Vazquez has been scratched from Sunday’s scheduled start to rest a strained lower abdominal muscle. RHP Kris Medlen will start in his place. … Tim Hudson, on the mend from “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow, pitched batting practice for the Braves before the game. A team spokesman said Hudson was scheduled for a rehab assignment at Single A Myrtle Beach starting July 19. … Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez was sent back to Atlanta, where team doctors examined his sore left elbow. A Braves spokesman said it was determined Gonzalez had some tendinitis in the elbow, but should be available after the All-Star break. … Rockies reliever Alan Embree underwent surgery to repair a fractured right tibia a day after suffering the injury when struck by a line drive off the bat of the Braves’ Martin Prado. Embree was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and the Rockies recalled reliever Matt Belisle from Triple A Colorado Springs. … Tulowitzki has hit 10 of his 15 home runs since June 8.