The Braves would've preferred to start over after their 5-9 stumble out of the gate. Taking a mulligan wasn't an option, so this will do.

Behind a splendid pitching performance from rookie Jair Jurrjens and key hits from Mark Teixeira, the Braves defeated Los Angeles 6-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep before 36,772 at Turner Field.

Jurrjens (2-2) had a career-high eight strikeouts in seven innings and Teixeira went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for the Braves, who've won four in a row after dropping six of the first eight games on their recent road trip.

"Pretty much, I'd say this is the best series we've played in about three years," said third baseman Chipper Jones, who had two hits before leaving after the fifth inning with recurring soreness in his right quadriceps muscle.

The major-league hitting leader hopes to be back in the lineup Monday night, when the Braves open a two-game home set with the woeful Washington Nationals, losers of 14 of their last 16.

"Our whole offense is rolling now," said Teixeira, who gave the Braves a 1-0 lead with his single in the third inning, then effectively put the game away with his two-run homer in a four-run eighth.

Kelly Johnson had a homer and a double and Jeff Francoeur added three hits for the Braves, who totaled 33 hits in the series and outscored the Dodgers 16-3 in their first sweep against them in eight years.

The Dodgers were 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position, including 0-for-10 Sunday.

As good as Atlanta's resurgent offense was in the series, pitching has been an even bigger factor during a winning streak that's brought the Braves to .500 (9-9) for the first time since they were 3-3.

Starters John Smoltz, Jeff Bennett, Chuck James and Jurrjens have allowed 12 hits and two runs in 21 2/3 innings (0.83 ERA) during the winning streak, and the injury-depleted bullpen has answered the challenge.

Jurrjens had his best of his four starts for the Braves, allowing one run and three hits and striking out fellow Curacao native Andruw Jones all three times he faced the longtime former Braves center fielder.

Jones struck out looking with a runner at third base to end the first inning.

"I think he's still the biggest [name] back home," joked Jurrjens, who said "maybe the whole island" was watching Sunday's game on TV in Curacao.

The right-hander reduced his ERA to 3.20 and gave up only three walks, two singles, and a two-out homer by Russell Martin in the fourth inning.

"I love him," Teixeira said of Jurrjens, 22, who was acquired from Detroit in an offseason trade for shortstop Edgar Renteria. "He doesn't pitch like a rookie. He goes after hitters. I love his stuff, love his makeup. We need him."

Jurrjens had good command of an excellent changeup and sinker, and he also threw harder than he had so far this season, ringing up 95-96 mph fastballs.

"Great outing by J.J.," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Can't say enough about him. Every outing's been good."

With the Braves nursing a 2-1 lead, rookie reliever Blaine Boyer gave up a leadoff single to Juan Pierre in the eighth inning. Pierre stole second and third base before Boyer walked Andre Ethier with two outs.

Then he induced a groundout by Martin to end the inning, a huge out.

The Braves blew the game open with four in the bottom of the eighth, with Johnson's one-out double starting the burst. One out later, Martin Prado tripled and pumped his fist as he sprung up from his slide.

Teixeira followed with his homer. He's hit .381 with two homers and six RBIs in the past five games, after hitting .196 with two homers and six RBIs in the first 13.

"At this point in the season, I feel as good as I've felt my entire career," Teixeira said. "I'm always a slow starter. So to feel as good as I do at the plate now is a good sign."