BRAVES 5, METS 1: Jurrjens works out chemistry for success

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. —- As much as he would’ve enjoyed being part of the Netherlands’ recent upset wins against the Dominican Republic, Jair Jurrjens had his reasons for skipping the World Baseball Classic.

When he pitched six scoreless innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday, the young right-hander felt more certain he had made the right decision when he chose to stay with the Braves in spring training.

“We’re having fun,” said Jurrjens, who allowed four hits and no walks with six strikeouts as the Braves posted their 11th win in the past 12 games, including nine in 10 Grapefruit League games.

Their starting pitchers have a 2.09 ERA in the past 10 games.

Jurrjens, 23, said the offseason additions of three starting pitchers and a backup catcher (David Ross) made it imperative for him to stay in camp for his second Braves spring training.

“Especially when you’ve got a new catcher, to work on the relationship with him,” said the Curacao native, who as a rookie led the Braves in wins (13), innings (188 1/3) and strikeouts (139).

“Plus we have [three] new starting pitchers. You want to be friends before you get out of spring training. You don’t want to go away and come back and you don’t know the guys,” he said. “We have a lot of new guys on the team, and that’s the thing that’s really important, to get a good chemistry before you leave camp.”

Jurrjens, whom the Braves acquired from Detroit with center field prospect Gorkys Hernandez for shortstop Edgar Renteria in 2007, was 13-10 and finished third in voting for National League rookie of the year.

He could begin the new season in the No. 3 spot in the rotation behind veteran newcomers Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez, depending on where manager Bobby Cox slots Japanese newcomer Kenshin Kawakami.

The Braves added all three veterans to their rotation this offseason, and Jurrjens is especially pleased to have two 200-inning workhorses atop the rotation.

“Last year in the last couple of months, the starters weren’t going deep in the games,” he said. “That overworked our bullpen. This year, having Vazquez and Lowe, who always throw 200 innings every year they pitch, it’s exciting … to have two veterans who are going to give you a chance to win every time you go out there.”

He said his personal goals for 2009 include 200 innings.

“That’s my main goal, to get to 200 innings and see how it goes from there,” said Jurrjens, who on Tuesday struck out the side —- Ryan Church, Bobby Kielty, Robinson Cancel —- in the second inning and didn’t allow more than one baserunner in any inning.

“He was really good again,” Cox said of Jurrjens, who hadn’t posted a scoreless game in four spring appearances, although his ERA is a solid 2.87.

Jurrjens said he has been working in the bullpen to get a better alignment with home plate in his delivery. He got that worked out Tuesday and also featured the best sliders he has thrown all spring.

NEXT FOR BRAVES

> Who: at Mets

> When: 1:10 p.m. today