Braves 4, Rangers 2
Jason Heyward had two RBIs, Freddie Freeman had three hits and the Atlanta Braves avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Jair Jurrjens (9-3) allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings as Atlanta won for just the second time in seven games.
Jonny Venters pitched 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief and Craig Kimbrel struck out Josh Hamilton with a runner on in the ninth for his 19th save.
Heyward singled in two runs to highlight Atlanta’s three-run third inning, and Freeman hit a ground-rule double to left-center field that plated an insurance run in the seventh.
The Braves handed Texas righthander Alexi Ogando (7-2) his second straight defeat after Ogando opened the season with seven consecutive victories. Ogando allowed three runs – one earned – and five hits in five innings.
Nelson Cruz led off the Texas fourth with a double and scored on a one-out single by Torrealba.
The Rangers pulled within 3-2 in the top of the seventh when Ian Kinsler singled, stole second, moved to third on a flyout and scored on Josh Hamilton’s groundout.
Jurrjens gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out four.