Starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens made his season debut for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, starting against reigning World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. He wasn’t as sharp as usual, but still was able to silence the bats of the Ryan Howards and Chase Utleys to lead his team to a 4-0 shutout with 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and three walks, while striking out two. He threw 96 pitches, 55 for strikes. It was the second win for the Braves, as they beat the Phillies on Sunday in the season opener 4-1. The clip shows highlights from the game, though not much of Jurrjens.
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Rick van den Hurk starts the season on the disabled list, as a MRI showed some inflammation on the outside of his elbow. He will take it slow for a few days, before he resumes throwing. The 23-year-old is scheduled to undergo another MRI on Saturday, just to make sure nothing is wrong seriously.
The starting pitchers Sidney Ponson (KC) and Shairon Martis (WAS) are scheduled to make their season debuts in the MLB on Friday. Ponson is taking on the New York Yankees in the Royals home opener. Martis will pitch against the Braves in Atlanta.
The Italian reliever Alex Maestri is going to start into the new Minor League season with the Tennessee Smokies in Double-A. The Chicago Cubs affiliate released it opening day roster on Monday. They open the 2009 schedule on Thursday in Jacksonville.
The German catcher Kai Gronauer of the New York Mets was assigned to the Savannah Sand Dawgs and will also begin the new season in the South Atlantic League (Single-A) on Thursday. After his first experience of professional baseball in the Gulf Coast League last summer, he is going to play his first full season and is expected to start four games per week behind the plate.