Jurrjens hit hard as Braves fall to Giants 9-0

ATLANTA – Manager Fredi Gonzalez wants the Braves to move past an ugly loss as quickly as possible.

Jair Jurrjens gave up eight runs in only 3 1-3 innings and Atlanta's seven-game winning streak ended Tuesday night with a 9-0 loss to Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants.

"Get it out of the way," Gonzalez said of the loss. "It's probably one of the ugliest games we've played in a while."

The eight runs allowed matched the career high for Jurrjens (3-3), who gave up eight hits and three walks. Jurrjens had been 3-0 in four starts since his recall from Triple-A Gwinnett on June 22.

"It was a tough one," Jurrjens said, adding he didn't have good command of his pitches. The Braves were not charged with an error but also were hurt by some sloppy fielding, including when Jurrjens missed the bag after taking a throw from Freeman on Angel Pagan's infield hit to start the Giants' six-run fourth inning.

"We just didn't get it done like a team," Jurrjens said. "I didn't make pitches, we didn't hit, we didn't field. That's a team loss."

Georgia native Buster Posey drove in five runs with three hits, including a three-run double in the big fourth inning. Posey had been only 1 for 11 at Turner Field before his big night. He said his parents and grandparents were in the crowd.

"I think I was a little more relaxed, for sure," Posey said, comparing the game to his earlier visits to Atlanta. "I don't get the chance to play before people I grew up with very often."

Posey had run-scoring singles in the first and third innings. His third hit was a three-run double off Luis Avilan after Jurrjens departed in the fourth.

Zito (8-6) allowed only three hits and one walk with four strikeouts in seven innings. He improved to 4-0 in five career starts at Turner Field.

"I don't think there's a whole lot to it," Zito said when asked about his success in Atlanta. "It's a fun place to pitch."

The first-place Giants, who have won four straight, began the night two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

The Braves' only hits off Zito were a single by Martin Prado to lead off the fourth, an infield hit by Brian McCann to open the fifth and Freddie Freeman's double with two outs in the seventh. Zito ended the seventh on McCann's groundout to second base.

George Kontos took over for Zito to start the eighth and gave up a one-out double to Paul Janish. Clay Hensley allowed a single to Tyler Pastornicky in the ninth for Atlanta's fifth hit. Hensley hit Freeman with a pitch before ending the game on McCann's flyball to centerfield.

The Giants sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth. Zito slapped a run-scoring single under third baseman Chipper Jones' glove. Ryan Theriot and Melky Cabrera also drove in runs with singles in the big inning.

San Francisco catcher Hector Sanchez left the game in the fourth with a sprained left knee. Sanchez singled and then took off for second base as Zito attempted a bunt. Zito missed the ball and Sanchez appeared to hurt himself when he stopped running. He was limping as he left the field.

Bochy said Sanchez will have an MRI on Wednesday.

"We're hoping for the best," Bochy said. "We're thinking it's a couple days."

Sanchez started with Posey playing first base. Brandon Belt ran for Sanchez and remained in the game at first as Posey moved behind the plate. The Giants say Sanchez is day to day.

Avilan gave up five hits and one run in 3 2-3 innings.

NOTES: SS Paul Janish, acquired from the Reds on Saturday, made his second straight start. Janish is the fill-in for SS Andrelton Simmons, who is expected to miss at least one month with a broken right little finger. ... LHP Jonny Venters, on the 15-day DL with a left elbow impingement, said he felt no physical problem after throwing in the bullpen. He is eligible to come off the DL on Friday but first could have one or two rehab games at Triple-A Gwinnett, according to Gonzalez. ... Cabrera rejoined the Giants following the birth of his daughter, Melianny, on Saturday. ... Gonzalez said Ben Sheets and Randall Delgado will pitch in Sunday's doubleheader at Washington, which was scheduled following a June 1 rainout. Delgado will be recalled from Gwinnett for the start. ... Braves LHP Mike Minor will face Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong on Wednesday night.