On Wednesday two pitchers, who could start for the Dutch national team at the World Baseball Classic next March appeared on the mound for their respective teams got roughed up.
Jair Jurrjens of the Atlanta Braves got the starting nod versus the surging Philadelphia Phillies. The 22-year-old right-hander, making his 30th start of the year, allowed four runs on three hits and an error in the first inning en route to a 1-6 loss. He recovered after the bad beginning and gave up just two more hits in the next four innings for a final line of five hits, four runs and five walks in five innings pitched. He had problems with his control, throwing just 55 of his 97 pitches for strikes. He now has a record of 13-10 with an ERA of 3.72. Jurrjens struck out 138 (69 walks) in 181 1/3 innings so far. He is probably the best starter of the Braves this season, after injuries cut the year short for veterans like John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine.
Shairon Martis isn’t an established starter in the MLB yet. But his first two starts, despite two losses, were promising. However on Wednesday he got a reminder that he still has lots of work to do. The Washington Nationals spot starter this September didn’t find a rhythm against the New York Mets, putting his team 1-6 behind in the first three frames. Martis allowed five hits, six runs and two base on balls in three innings, while striking out four. 38 of his 71 pitches were strikes. Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado greeted him with two homeruns in the first inning; Carlos Beltran followed with a third two frames later. The Nationals nearly came back later on, but lost in the 7-9 anyway. Martis now has a 0-3 record with an ERA of 6.23 in three starts.
