Jair Jurrjens started for a last time before the All-Star break on Saturday and picked up his seventh win of the season. He held the Rockies to five hits, two runs and three walks in six-plus innings. His Braves won by a score of 4-3 in the end. Jurrjens himself also had a nice day at the plate, going two-for-three with a run scored and his fourth RBI of the season, raising his batting average to .189 (OBP .231). He threw 101 pitches, 61 for strikes. Jurrjens now is 7-7 with an ERA of 2.91 in 2009. Despite having the ninth-best ERA among starters in the Major League, the managers, coaches and players didn’t vote him into the all-star game.
Around the Minors:
- The three Dutch players Daan Cornelissen (Pittsburgh Pirates), Raoell Kortstam (Boston Red Sox) and Ruben Rijkhof (Atlanta Braves) , who signed professional contracts with Major League organizations this year, are currently in Australia, getting their feet wet in the Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP), which is similar to the instructional leagues in Florida and the Dominican Republic each fall. 21 players with pro contracts take part in the program this year according to Rogier van Zon of Honkbalsite.com. Until August 7th they will have played 48 games.
- German first baseman Donald Lutz of the Cincinnati Reds, who still is playing in the Gulf Coast League despite a strong extended spring training, hit for the cycle on Friday, going four-for-five with four runs scored and four RBI.
- Don’t forget to watch tonight’s Futures Game with Italian third baseman Alex Liddi of the Seattle Mariners and Dutch national teamer Juan Carlos Sulbaran (Cincinnati Reds). The game starts at 8pm CET and can be seen on MLB.tv and ESPN America.