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Braves Notch Back-To-Back Wins Over Nats

Posted: 11:08 pm EDT September 5, 2008

(Sports Network) - Rookie Brandon Jones highlighted a seven-run third inning with a three-run double, carrying Atlanta to a 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals.

Kelly Johnson had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in two runs for the Braves, who have won the first two contests of this four-game series. It's the first time Atlanta has posted back-to-back wins since Aug. 7-9 at Arizona.

Jair Jurrjens (12-9) allowed six hits and a run over five innings to snap a four-start winless skid.

"Every time you win it shows like you're working hard," said Jurrjens. "Thank God my teammates had my back today. We scored a lot of runs to make it a little bit easier for me to pitch tonight."

Jason Bergmann (2-11) was pounded for five hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Nationals, who had won eight of nine coming into this series.

Kory Casto had three hits and scored in a losing cause. Ryan Langerhans laced a two-run triple.

"We've just got to get back on track," said Langerhans. "We had a stretch where we were playing good ball. We've got to move on."

Jurrjens and Josh Anderson singled to start the big third inning. Johnson then stroked an RBI double and Chipper Jones walked before Brian McCann lofted a sacrifice fly to right.

Yunel Escobar and Casey Kotchman drew consecutive walks, accounting for another run and ending Bergmann's night on the mound. Marco Estrada then walked Jeff Francoeur before Brandon Jones cleared the bases by nailing an 0-2 pitch to the gap in right-center field for an 8-1 lead.

Johnson scored on an error in the fourth and he singled in a run in the fifth for a 10-1 margin.

Pinch-Hitter Aaron Boone singled in a run for the Nationals in the sixth before Langerhans trimmed the gap a bit in the seventh, and Wil Nieves added a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

After Jurrjens worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the away first, Anderson doubled and scored on Chipper Jones' groundout in the bottom half.

Washington tied the score in the third when Roger Bernadina tripled to right to score Ryan Zimmerman.

Game Notes

Washington leads the season series, 10-6...The Nationals left 10 men on base...Francoeur was on the hip by a pitch in the fifth inning and left the game...Jurrjens has allowed just 10 homers this season, the fewest among all rookies with at least 20 starts...Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill underwent season-ending surgery on his right elbow Friday. The Nationals also announced first baseman Ronnie Belliard has a right groin strain, which could sideline him for the remainder of the season

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