ATLANTA – Jair Jurrjens returned from the disabled list and handcuffed the New York Mets, leaving them with their longest losing streak in seven years.
Jurrjens threw seven sharp innings, combining with George Sherrill and Scott Linebrink on a two-hitter, and the Braves shut out the struggling Mets 4-0 Saturday night to complete a doubleheader sweep.
In the opener, Alex Gonzalez hit two of Atlanta's four solo homers and the Braves finally provided some offense for Derek Lowe in a 4-2 victory.
The Mets were swept in a doubleheader for the second time in three days to extend their losing streak to seven games, their longest since dropping 11 straight in 2004. Colorado swept the Mets in New York on Thursday.
Jurrjens was better than expected in his return from a right oblique strain.
"Having him back was huge for our team," said Eric Hinske, who had three hits in his second start this season at first base. "For your first game coming off the DL, that's way more than you could ask for."
Jurrjens finished the 2010 season on the disabled list with a knee injury before sustaining the oblique strain late in spring training. He was one of Atlanta's top starters in 2008 and 2009, when he went a combined 27-20.
"It's a good feeling being able to help your team," Jurrjens said. "It's exciting being back out there. It's fun, and I hope it continues the rest of the season."
Jurrjens (1-0) faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings. He gave up two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
The Mets (4-11) have matched the third-worst start in franchise history, according to STATS LLC. They opened 3-12 in 1962 and 1964. They also lost 11 of their first 15 games in 1974 and 1981.
New York has lost 10 of 11 after winning three of its first four games under new manager Terry Collins.
"They care. They're unhappy," Collins said. "We're going to get ready for tomorrow."
Mike Pelfrey (0-2) allowed 11 hits and four runs in five-plus innings. He gave up three hits in the first, including a run-scoring single by Dan Uggla, and three more in the third, including Chipper Jones' RBI single.
Hinske drove in a run and Martin Prado had two hits and scored two runs in the second game. Jones, who hit a homer in the opener, added two hits.
Willie Harris singled with two outs in the second but was picked off to end the inning. Jurrjens then retired the next nine batters before Daniel Murphy led off the sixth with a double. Murphy was thrown out by catcher David Ross on an ill-advised attempt to steal third.
"We used to call that an error of enthusiasm," Collins said. "I addressed it."
Murphy accepted the blame for his mental mistake.
"It was an awful play," he said. "There was nothing that could have been going through my mind that would have justified that. I'm not going to score three runs by myself. I killed (the inning)."
The only other baserunner allowed by Jurrjens was a walk to Mike Nickeas in the sixth.
The four homers in the opener, including one by rookie Freddie Freeman, were a season high for Atlanta and the most for the team since hitting four in a 16-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 22, 2010.
Lowe (2-2) gave up two runs and five hits in six innings. He has a 1.82 ERA this season, but lost his previous two starts as the Braves were shut out by Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
D.J. Carrasco (0-1) yielded four hits, including three homers, in 3 2-3 innings as a fill-in starter for New York in the first game.
Before the opener, the Mets placed right-hander Chris Young on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis in his pitching arm. Right-hander Dillon Gee will be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to start on Sunday.
Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth to earn his fourth save.
The series opener was postponed by rain Friday night. The Mets were playing consecutive doubleheaders for the first time since Aug. 20-21, 1998, against St. Louis. Club officials called the commissioner's office Friday night, hoping to avoid a second straight twinbill, but the makeup game remained.
Players wore No. 42 jerseys in the opener as part of baseball's annual tribute to Jackie Robinson, originally planned for Friday night. Among those wearing No. 42 was Harris who, like Robinson, was born in Cairo, Ga.
Harris drove in Carlos Beltran with a double off Lowe in the sixth, cutting it to 3-2. Josh Thole had a single and scored on Jose Reyes' grounder in the fifth.
The Braves began the day with 11 homers in 13 games.
Gonzalez has 16 of his 140 career homers against the Mets, more than any other team.
Jones, whose history of success against the Mets is no secret, began the day with a .319 career batting average against New York. The homer was his 45th against the Mets, matching his total against the Phillies.
NOTES: LHP Pat Misch, just recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, will be dropped from the roster to make room for Gee, Collins said. ... After the first game, the Braves placed right-hander Peter Moylan on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain, clearing a roster spot for Jurrjens. ... Mets LF Jason Bay, on the DL with a strained left rib cage, was to play a rehab game for Class-A St. Lucie on Saturday night and could join the team Tuesday.