Jair Jurrjens with second Win against Nationals

Jair Jurrjens made his second start of the season for the Braves on Sunday against the Nationals. He had a few problems finding the strike zone, but still pitched well enough for his second win of the year thanks to a comfortable cushion by his offense. The right-hander allowed five hits, four runs (3 ER) and five bb in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out one. 58 of his 98 pitches were strikes. Atlanta won 8-5 in the end against a still winless team from Washington.

Notes on other Europeans in MLB, Triple-A and Double-A:
(Single A following later this week)
MLB:

• Andruw Jones, reduced to a backup role with the Texas Rangers, went three-for-five with a double, two runs scored and a RBI in his only game so far.
• Wladimir Balentien of the Seattle Mariners has four hits and four runs in ten at bats over five games, starting two of them. He is currently listed as day-to-day following a diving catch against the Athletics on Saturday, jamming his left wrist and elbow.

Triple-A:

• Outfielder Roger Bernadina is batting .200 (OBP .333/SLG .200) for the Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) through four games. He had three hits and three walks, while scoring once.
• Right-handed pitcher Rick van den Hurk of the Florida Marlins is still on the disabled list with no news regarding his elbow injury.
• Infielder Yurendell de Caster was released by the Detroit Tigers organization joins the independent league team Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks with World Baseball Classic teammate Randall Simon according to a report by Rogier van Zon on Honkbalsite.com.

Double-A:

• Reliever Alex Maestri, who is pitching for the Tennessee Smokies (Double-A Cubs), appeared in two games in 2009, conceding two runs on four hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings, while striking out two. After being a starter in 2008, he is back in the bullpen and hopes to get on the fast track towards the Majors.
• Despite being listed as the best prospect in the Mariners organization, Gregory Halman once again started the year in Double-A. In four games he is hitting .125 (.176/.313) with a homerun, two runs scored, three RBI, a walk and six strikeouts (in 15 at-bats).
• Second Baseman Sharlon Schoop was promoted to the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants in Connecticut. In his only game so far he had a RBI double in five at bats.
• Reliever Alex Smit also received the promotion to Double-A and could face Schoop in the Eastern League. In his only appearance for the Carolina Mudcats he allowed three hits, a run (solo homerun) and two walks in two innings, striking out two.
• After playing already 59 games in Double-A last season, Hainley Statia again began in Arkansas. The Los Angeles Angel waits for his first hit of the season after ten at bats in three games. He walked once, stole a base and scored a run.