Piratesdaily.com | Pittsburgh Pirates News, pirates Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>J.J. blinked -- and the Pirates blanked. </div>Paul Maholm pitched seven shutout innings to outshine right-hander Jair Jurrjens, as the anticipated pitching matchup between two of the NL's top young arms met expectations Friday night at PNC Park. "Jurrjens was throwing a great game, and I've got to match him zero for zero," Maholm said. "That's kind of what happened." Behind ace left-hander Maholm, stellar defense and some timely hitting, the Pirates opened a three-game weekend series with a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Maholm allowed four hits -- all singles -- while striking out two and walking three to improve to 2-0 and lower his ERA to 0.87. "I made my pitches when I needed to," Maholm said. "The defense made some great plays." The Pirates led, 1-0, for most of the game before Nate McLouth's two-run homer in the eighth inning made it 3-0 and relieved some tension from the crowd of 15,659, sending the Braves to their fourth loss in a row. John Grabow pitched a scoreless eighth, and Matt Capps followed with a perfect ninth for his third save. One year after the Pirates had, at least statistically, the worst starting rotation in the majors, Maholm combines with Sunday's starter, Zach Duke (0.59), to give the Pirates two starters with ERAs under 1.00. The Pirates will arrive for today's 12:35 p.m. game with the Braves with a team ERA of 2.90, which, for now, is the best in the major leagues. "We all worked hard in the offseason," Maholm said. "We wanted to come in and prove last year was a fluke. Our staff is way better than that. We need to prove it. We're on a roll. The starters are comfortable. We're going deep into games. Hopefully, it will continue. ... We're only 10 games in, but it's good. Last year, we started off really rough. Now, the pitchers need to do their jobs." Jurrjens (2-1) was just as sharp as his counterpart, allowing one earned run on four hits in 62/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two. The Pirates went ahead, 1-0, in the second inning on Brandon Moss' one-out triple to left-center and scored on Andy LaRoche's RBI grounder. It was the first RBI of the season for LaRoche, who went 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base. Maholm wasn't his best. Only 57 of his 102 pitches were strikes, he hit Braves catcher Brian McCann twice, walked Jurrjens on four pitches in the third and was charged with an ugly balk in the seventh. But the Pirates' Opening Day starter did more than enough to win for the 12th time in his past 15 decisions at PNC Park. He got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second and held the Braves hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position. "He wasn't as sharp tonight," manager John Russell said, "but he found a way to get outs." Maholm had a lot of help. McLouth, LaRoche and shortstop Ramon Vazquez -- who started for Jack Wilson (finger) -- each made stellar defensive plays, as Maholm enjoyed his 18th quality start in his past 21 starts dating to last season. In the second, Maholm escaped a bases-loaded jam when Casey Kotchman popped out on the infield -- moments after he missed an extra-base hit by inches -- and rookie Jordan Schafer hit a sharp grounder back to the mound that Maholm turned into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play. Maholm walked Jurrjens to lead off the third. But with one out and Jurrjens on second, Gold Glove outfielder McLouth made a diving catch in shallow center to rob Omar Infante of a base hit. In the fourth, Jeff Francoeur singled to center, but Andy LaRoche, who has played errorless ball since committing three errors in the first 13 innings of the season, caught a low liner off Martin Prado's bat and fired to brother Adam to double-up Francoeur and complete the inning-ending double play. McLouth said the good defense is a by-product of Maholm's pitching. "You're on your toes when guys are throwing strikes like that," McLouth said. "Since May of last year, I guess unhittable would be the word to use. You can't describe how much easier it is to play defense behind a guy like that." How they scored Pirates second inning (Jair Jurrjens pitching) With one out, Brandon Moss tripled to left-center. Andy LaRoche grounded out to second, Moss scored. Pirates 1, Braves 0 Pirates eighth (Mike Gonzalez pitching) With one out, Freddy Sanchez singled. Nate McLouth homered to right (No. 3) on a 1-0 pitch. Pirates 3, Braves 0

J.J. blinked -- and the Pirates blanked.

Paul Maholm pitched seven shutout innings to outshine right-hander Jair Jurrjens, as the anticipated pitching matchup between two of the NL's top young arms met expectations Friday night at PNC Park.

"Jurrjens was throwing a great game, and I've got to match him zero for zero," Maholm said. "That's kind of what happened."

Behind ace left-hander Maholm, stellar defense and some timely hitting, the Pirates opened a three-game weekend series with a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Maholm allowed four hits -- all singles -- while striking out two and walking three to improve to 2-0 and lower his ERA to 0.87.

"I made my pitches when I needed to," Maholm said. "The defense made some great plays."

The Pirates led, 1-0, for most of the game before Nate McLouth's two-run homer in the eighth inning made it 3-0 and relieved some tension from the crowd of 15,659, sending the Braves to their fourth loss in a row.

John Grabow pitched a scoreless eighth, and Matt Capps followed with a perfect ninth for his third save.

One year after the Pirates had, at least statistically, the worst starting rotation in the majors, Maholm combines with Sunday's starter, Zach Duke (0.59), to give the Pirates two starters with ERAs under 1.00.

The Pirates will arrive for today's 12:35 p.m. game with the Braves with a team ERA of 2.90, which, for now, is the best in the major leagues.

"We all worked hard in the offseason," Maholm said. "We wanted to come in and prove last year was a fluke. Our staff is way better than that. We need to prove it. We're on a roll. The starters are comfortable. We're going deep into games. Hopefully, it will continue. ... We're only 10 games in, but it's good. Last year, we started off really rough. Now, the pitchers need to do their jobs."

Jurrjens (2-1) was just as sharp as his counterpart, allowing one earned run on four hits in 62/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

The Pirates went ahead, 1-0, in the second inning on Brandon Moss' one-out triple to left-center and scored on Andy LaRoche's RBI grounder.

It was the first RBI of the season for LaRoche, who went 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base.

Maholm wasn't his best. Only 57 of his 102 pitches were strikes, he hit Braves catcher Brian McCann twice, walked Jurrjens on four pitches in the third and was charged with an ugly balk in the seventh.

But the Pirates' Opening Day starter did more than enough to win for the 12th time in his past 15 decisions at PNC Park. He got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second and held the Braves hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position.

"He wasn't as sharp tonight," manager John Russell said, "but he found a way to get outs."

Maholm had a lot of help. McLouth, LaRoche and shortstop Ramon Vazquez -- who started for Jack Wilson (finger) -- each made stellar defensive plays, as Maholm enjoyed his 18th quality start in his past 21 starts dating to last season.

In the second, Maholm escaped a bases-loaded jam when Casey Kotchman popped out on the infield -- moments after he missed an extra-base hit by inches -- and rookie Jordan Schafer hit a sharp grounder back to the mound that Maholm turned into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.

Maholm walked Jurrjens to lead off the third. But with one out and Jurrjens on second, Gold Glove outfielder McLouth made a diving catch in shallow center to rob Omar Infante of a base hit.

In the fourth, Jeff Francoeur singled to center, but Andy LaRoche, who has played errorless ball since committing three errors in the first 13 innings of the season, caught a low liner off Martin Prado's bat and fired to brother Adam to double-up Francoeur and complete the inning-ending double play.

McLouth said the good defense is a by-product of Maholm's pitching.

"You're on your toes when guys are throwing strikes like that," McLouth said. "Since May of last year, I guess unhittable would be the word to use. You can't describe how much easier it is to play defense behind a guy like that."

How they scored

Pirates second inning (Jair Jurrjens pitching) With one out, Brandon Moss tripled to left-center. Andy LaRoche grounded out to second, Moss scored.

Pirates 1, Braves 0

Pirates eighth (Mike Gonzalez pitching) With one out, Freddy Sanchez singled. Nate McLouth homered to right (No. 3) on a 1-0 pitch.

Pirates 3, Braves 0