ChrisVolstad
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W0 | 32 |
| L6 | 45 |
| G8 | 111 |
| IP41.0 | 625.0 |
| BB15 | 219 |
| SO24 | 402 |
JairJurrjens
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W1 | 51 |
| L2 | 35 |
| G6 | 121 |
| IP29.2 | 732.0 |
| BB14 | 256 |
| SO12 | 492 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W0 | 32 |
| L6 | 45 |
| G8 | 111 |
| IP41.0 | 625.0 |
| BB15 | 219 |
| SO24 | 402 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W1 | 51 |
| L2 | 35 |
| G6 | 121 |
| IP29.2 | 732.0 |
| BB14 | 256 |
| SO12 | 492 |
Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens has been sharp in his two outings since returning from the minors.
The Chicago Cubs are hoping for similar results from Chris Volstad , who is closing in on the one-year anniversary of his most recent major league victory.
The Cubs, winless in Volstad's eight starts this year, try to extend their longest winning streak of the season to five games Tuesday night against Jurrjens and the struggling Braves.
Chicago (30-49) still has one of the worst records in the majors, but with Monday's 4-1 victory in Atlanta the team won for the sixth time in seven games.
"The way we're playing right now is exciting," winning pitcher Jeff Samardzija said. "It's solid all around."
The Cubs, who had six wins in their previous 22 games before this stretch, can attribute their turnaround to some solid starting pitching and the arrival of prized prospect Anthony Rizzo .
Chicago has yielded three total runs during its four-game winning streak, and Rizzo hit his second homer Monday. The 22-year-old first baseman is 7 for 23 (.304) with five RBIs in six games.
"It definitely hasn't hurt," Samardzija said of Rizzo's promotion from the minors. "Rizzo's presence in our lineup has been big, a big left-handed hitter."
While the Cubs are starting to play better baseball, the Braves (41-38) have lost four of five to drop five games behind NL East-leading Washington.
Brian McCann has been slumping mightily, going 1 for 19 in his last five games to see his average drop to .224, and he was moved down to seventh in the batting order Monday.
McCann, who was left off the NL All-Star team for the first time since his rookie season in 2005, could have another tough night Tuesday considering he is 4 for 24 against Volstad.
Although Volstad (0-6, 7.46 ERA) has had McCann's number, he hasn't enjoyed much other success lately. He has made 19 starts since his last victory, which came with Florida against Houston last July 10, and he was sent to the minors May 18 after yielding at least four runs in seven consecutive starts.
The right-hander wasn't particularly impressive in his eight outings for Triple-A Iowa, going 2-3 with a 4.44 ERA, but Chicago needed to fill the void left after Randy Wells was outrighted to the minors. Volstad said his "whole attitude has changed."
"I had some things I needed to work on and things I needed to iron out," he told the Cubs' official website. "I've done it before, but this time was different."
Jurrjens (1-2, 6.07) was an All-Star last year, but got off to such a dreadful start this season - 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA in four outings - that he was sent to the minors on April 24.
The time at Triple-A Gwinnett seems to have done the trick. After allowing a run and three hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 4-1 victory at Boston on June 22, the righty gave up two runs and six hits Thursday in 5 2-3 innings of the Braves' 3-2 loss to Arizona.
"I was trying to have fun, keep my team in the game," Jurrjens said.
He is 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA in four career starts versus the Cubs.
Volstad is 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts against the Braves since last beating them Aug. 27, 2010.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Jeff Baker | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .500 | .250 |
| Darwin Barney | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .000 |
| Tony Campana | 1 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 1.000 |
| Starlin Castro | 4 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| David DeJesus | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Blake DeWitt | 9 | .333 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .500 | .833 | .333 |
| Ryan Dempster | 7 | .143 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .286 | .143 |
| Paul Maholm | 5 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Joe Mather | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | 1.000 | .667 |
| Alfonso Soriano | 11 | .273 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .273 | .818 | .545 |
| Geovany Soto | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .400 | .400 | .000 |
| Ian Stewart | 21 | .238 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | .227 | .703 | .476 |
| Chris Volstad | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Randy Wells | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Brandon Beachy | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Michael Bourn | 14 | .286 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | .444 | .801 | .357 |
| Matt Diaz | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.500 | 1.500 |
| Freddie Freeman | 7 | .429 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .375 | .804 | .429 |
| Tommy Hanson | 5 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Livan Hernandez | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jason Heyward | 9 | .333 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1.500 | 1.000 |
| Eric Hinske | 8 | .375 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .444 | 1.194 | .750 |
| Chipper Jones | 15 | .267 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .294 | .561 | .267 |
| Jair Jurrjens | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .500 | .250 |
| Brian McCann | 24 | .167 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .200 | .492 | .292 |
| Martin Prado | 16 | .313 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .313 | .751 | .438 |
| David Ross | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Dan Uggla | 6 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .833 | .500 |
| Jack Wilson | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Chicago Cubs |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| June 16, 2012 | Ryan Dempster | 15-Day DL | Right lat tightness |
| June 13, 2012 | Ian Stewart | 15-Day DL | Sore left wrist |
| June 02, 2012 | Blake Parker | 60-Day DL | Stress reaction in right elbow |
| May 19, 2012 | Welington Castillo | 15-Day DL | Sprained right knee |
| May 19, 2012 | Welington Castillo | 15-Day DL | Sprained right knee |
| May 17, 2012 | Geovany Soto | 15-Day DL | Torn meniscus, left knee |
Atlanta Braves |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| June 17, 2012 | Brandon Beachy | 15-Day DL | Right elbow surgery - out for season |
| June 16, 2012 | Brandon Beachy | Day-to-Day | Left game - Right elbow soreness |
| June 13, 2012 | Freddie Freeman | Day-to-Day | Left thumb discomfort |
| June 12, 2012 | Eric O'Flaherty | Day-to-Day | Left elbow soreness |
| June 09, 2012 | Tim Hudson | Day-to-Day | Bone spurs in left ankle |
| June 02, 2012 | Brian McCann | Day-to-Day | Left game - bruised left knee |
ATLANTA (AP) -- Chipper Jones absorbed every moment of a performance he said he'll cherish in retirement.
The newly chosen All-Star, delivered his first five-hit game in a decade, driving in four runs Tuesday night and leading the Atlanta Braves over the Chicago Cubs 10-3.
Jones was added to the NL All-Star roster before the game. The 40-year-old third baseman replaced injured Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp .
He then played like an All-Star at the plate, on defense and with his first stolen base of the season.
Jones, who plans to retire after this season, went 5 for 5 for his third career five-hit game and first since Aug. 11, 2002.
"Tonight was just one of those dream games," Jones said. "I would be hard-pressed to find a game in which I played better."
After his fifth hit, a single in the eighth inning, Jones was lifted for pinch runner Juan Francisco . Jones tipped his batting helmet as he received an ovation on his way to the dugout. He emerged from the dugout for another wave to the fans as the cheers continued.
"That was fun. That was a lot of fun," Jones said. "It's just another one to file in the memory bank from my last year. It has been pretty special to this point."
Jones hit a three-run double in the sixth. He has a season-best 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .313.
"I don't think that swing is ready to retire," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.
Jones added a defensive highlight in the eighth inning when he fielded Darwin Barney 's grounder behind third base and, while in foul territory, threw him out at first.
"Impressive," Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens said. "He stole the show today. He carried us."
Jurrjens (2-2) gave up nine hits and three runs, all unearned, in five innings. Reliever Kris Medlen pitched three perfect innings.
The Cubs led 3-1 before Michael Bourn hit a bases-loaded triple in Atlanta's five-run fifth. Martin Prado 's sacrifice fly and Jason Heyward 's 13th homer in the inning pushed the Braves' lead to 6-3, chasing Chris Volstad out of the game.
Volstad (0-7) was promoted from Triple-A Iowa for the start. He gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 1-3 innings.
"He didn't really pitch to the game plan and that was discouraging," Sveum said, adding Volstad didn't follow catcher Steve Clevenger .
Sveum said Volstad will have another chance.
"We don't have any options, so we'll run him out there again," Sveum said. "As of now we don't have any other options."
The loss left Volstad with 20 consecutive starts without a win. It is the longest winless streak in the majors since Jo-Jo Reyes made 28 straight winless starts for the Braves and the Blue Jays from 2008-11, according to STATS LLC.
Volstad was winless in his last 11 starts with Florida in 2011 and hasn't won in nine starts over two stints with the Cubs this season.
"It's definitely a learning process," Volstad said. "I think it's just a matter of trying to be too perfect. Too fine.
"I just need to relax."
Bourn walked in the first and scored when Jones' single dropped in front of David DeJesus in center field. DeJesus dove and trapped the ball.
Cubs relievers Rafael Dolis and Jairo Asencio combined to walk six batters in the sixth, helping the Braves score four runs on only one hit - Jones' bases-loaded double to right field. Prado forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk from Asencio.
The start of the game was delayed by rain for 52 minutes. Following the rain, the first-pitch temperature was 72 degrees, a drop of more than 20 degrees.
NOTES: Volstad's last win came on July 10, 2011 with Florida against Houston. ... The Cubs optioned RHP Casey Coleman to Triple-A Iowa to clear a roster spot for Volstad. Coleman gave up seven earned runs, his career high as a reliever, in last Wednesday's 17-1 loss to the Reds. ... Braves RHP Randall Delgado will face Cubs LHP Paul Maholm as the series continues on Wednesday night. Maholm threw seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Braves in Chicago on May 5.