Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens delivers to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Friday, June 22, 2012.BOSTON — Jair Jurrjens made an impressive return to the major leagues by allowing one run on three hits against the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox in the Atlanta Braves’ 4-1 win Friday night.
Jurrjens, an All-Star last season when he topped the Braves with 13 wins, worked 7 2/3 innings and left after allowing an RBI double by Daniel Nava that drove in Will Middlebrooks, who led off the eighth with a double. Boston’s only other hit was a clean single to left field by Adrian Gonzalez in the first.
Jurrjens was demoted to the minors on April 23 after going 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA in four starts. He was called up Friday and retired eight consecutive batters before Middlebrooks’ double that followed two innings in which he threw a total of 14 pitches. He also allowed runners on a walk and a hit batsman.
Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 22 opportunities.
Andrelton Simmons drove in two runs for Atlanta and Jason Heyward had two doubles and a single, improving to 7-for-11 in his last three games. The Braves won their third straight game after losing seven of eight.