Heyward defensive in return, leads Braves past Brewers

Jason Heyward's impact in his return from a thumb injury was lost in the box score.

Heyward was hitless in four at-bats in his first game with Atlanta since June 26, but the rookie's lead role on the field was unmistakable.

Two standout plays by Heyward in rightfield helped Jair Jurrjens give up only one run, and the Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, last night in Atlanta.

"Defense wins games and defense allows good things to happen," Heyward said.

Martin Prado and Chipper Jones hit home runs in the third inning off Dave Bush (4-7).

Corey Hart's 22nd homer gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the first inning. It was the only run allowed by Jurrjens (2-3), who gave up five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

Heyward was voted to start in Tuesday's All-Star Game but could only watch as he remained disabled with a left thumb injury. He came off the 15-day disabled list against the Brewers and delivered two great defensive plays. Milwaukee's Casey McGehee was the victim on each play.

McGehee led off the second with a single. Jim Edmonds followed with a single to right, and Heyward threw out McGehee at third base. Heyward's strong throw to Jones beat McGehee by such a wide margin that McGehee made no apparent attempt to touch the bag on his wide slide.

In the fourth, Heyward smashed into the rightfield wall after making a running catch to rob McGehee of a hit.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said the two plays "may have won us the ballgame."

Jurrjens said he had no doubt.

"He won the game," Jurrjens said of Heyward. "He made a really awesome throw."

Alex Gonzalez, acquired in Wednesday's five-player trade that sent Yunel Escobar to Toronto, had a walk and a double in his debut with the Braves.

In Braves news, they placed lefthander Eric O'Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list with a viral infection. The move is retroactive to July 10. Lefty Mike Dunn was recalled from Triple A Gwinnett.

Shortstop Brandon Hicks was optioned to Gwinnett to clear a roster spot for Heyward.

In other games:

* At St. Louis, Chris Carpenter (10-3) allowed four hits, struck out six and didn't walk a batter in eight innings to improve to 6-0 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cardinals chased an off-kilter Clayton Kershaw early in a 7-1 victory.

Also, the Cardinals finalized a 3-year extension for general manager John Mozeliak just ahead of the trade deadline.

They also placed outfielder Nick Stavinoha on the disabled list with a shoulder injury and recalled Allen Craig from Triple A Memphis. The Cards announced that rookie pitcher Adam Ottavino would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

For the Dodgers, Manny Ramirez came off the DL, batted cleanup and went 0-for-3. Los Angeles outfielder Reed Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury.

* At San Francisco, Tim Lincecum (10-4) pitched a six-hitter for his fourth career shutout and Pablo Sandoval hit an RBI double to help the Giants open the second half of the season with a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets.

The Mets were hoping for a big offensive boost this game with the return of five-time All-Star Carlos Beltran to the lineup. He batted cleanup and played centerfield, but was caught stealing after his only hit.

* Chicago Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano has completed his anger-management sessions and reported to Arizona to resume throwing.

Zambrano, who has been on the restricted list since June 29, has not been with the club since his June 25 dugout tirade. The Cubs do not have a timetable on Zambrano's return to the majors.

* The San Francisco Giants signed former 20-game winner Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract.

* The Florida Marlins sent reliever Dan Meyer to Triple A New Orleans.