Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jair Jurrjens pitched into the sixth inning in his return to the rotation and singled in a run as the Braves downed Washington, 4-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Jurrjens (1-3), who was on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring, was charged with six hits and a run over five-plus frames. The right-hander also walked two batters and had six strikeouts in just his sixth start of the season.
Brian McCann doubled in a run and Martin Prado continued his successful season with an RBI as the Braves posted their 18th victory in their last 21 home games.
J.D. Martin (0-4) was charged with six hits and three runs over five innings as the Nationals lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Prado, who is batting a National League-leading .333, doubled leading off the bottom of the first inning. McCann then doubled off the wall in left field to account for the first run of the night.
Washington wasted a leadoff double from Adam Dunn in the second and a one-out two-bagger from Martin in the third.
Atlanta tacked on two runs in the fourth. Eric Hinske and Gregor Blanco sandwiched singles around a pop-out from Yunel Escobar. Jurrjens then singled to left field for a two-run cushion, and Prado lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.
Jurrjens continued to evade trouble in the fifth. The Nationals loaded the bases with two outs, but Roger Bernadina grounded out.
Washington filled the bases again in the sixth, this time with nobody out. That signaled the exit for Jurrjens, who was replaced by Peter Moylan. Ivan Rodriguez grounded the reliever's first pitch into a 6-4-3 double play, scoring Washington's lone run. Cristian Guzman walked and went to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position, but Alberto Gonzalez fanned to end the inning.
Miguel Batista walked Hinske with the bases loaded in the seventh to force in Atlanta's fourth run.
Billy Wagner gave up a single to Rodriguez to start the ninth, but the lefty fanned the next three batters to pick up his 16th save of the year.
The Nationals next return to DC for a 10-game, 11-day homestand against the Mets, Padres and Giants...The Braves opened a roster spot for Jurrjens by optioning RHP Cristhian Martinez to Triple-A Gwinnett...Wagner picked up his 401st career save. It was 17th time Wagner has fanned the final three batters to end a game, setting a major league record, breaking a tie with Trevor Hoffman...The Nationals went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.