Chipper Jones knows he’s in a groove, the kind that comes along once every few years and even the best of hitters can’t explain.
He also knows it couldn’t come at a better time for the Braves, with Tom Glavine headed to the disabled list for the first time in 22 seasons.
“It’s good to come through for the team,” Jones said, “when the team needs it most.”
Jones had his second straight two-homer game Friday night, leading injury riddled Atlanta past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1. The Braves slugger hit a three-run shot off Derek Lowe in the fifth to break open a 2-0 game, then added a solo homer in the seventh to make it 6-1.
“I wish I could explain or begin to illustrate to people how awesome the last couple of nights have been,” said Jones, who has hit safely in 10 straight games. “Not only am I getting pitches to hit, I’m doing ultimate damage with ’em.”
The previous night, Jones went 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs in an 8-0 rout of the Florida Marlins. The 3-for-5 performance against the Dodgers raised his average to .455, with six homers and 18 RBIs.
Lowe (1-1) had a tough night all around. He took a liner off his right foot and lasted just 4 1-3 innings, allowing eight hits, five runs (four earned) and walking four.
“They were taking target practice against Derek,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
In other NL games, it was Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 2; the New York Mets 6, Philadelphia 4; Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 2; Washington 6, Florida 4; St. Louis 11, San Francisco 1; Arizona 9, San Diego 0; and Colorado 11, Houston 5.
Replacement starter Jeff Bennett worked into the fifth for Atlanta without allowing a run, but came up one out short of qualifying for the win. Manager Bobby Cox went to the bullpen, and Will Ohman (1-0) struck out Andre Ethier swinging with two aboard to get the victory.
Bennett filled in for Glavine, who came out of his last start with an ailing hamstring. The 303-game winner had hoped to start Saturday against the Dodgers, but the team announced during the game Friday night he was going on the disabled list.
“I’ve only been on the disabled list two hours and I hate it,” Glavine said. “I feel like I let people down. My job is to go out there and pitch.”
Last Sunday, Glavine threw only 16 pitches and failed to retire a batter against Washington, matching the shortest start of his career. The lefty threw a normal bullpen session on Thursday without any problems, but noted that he never throws at full speed on an off day.
“I never envisioned a hamstring problem, especially as flexible as I am and as loose as I was before the game,” Glavine said. “Hopefully it was just one of those freak things.”
Atlanta’s pitching staff has been hammered by injuries already. Starter Mike Hampton went on the DL with a pectoral injury that he sustained while warming up for what was supposed to be his first start since 2005. Closer Rafael Soriano (tendinitis) and setup man Peter Moylan also are on the DL, with Moylan facing the prospect of reconstructive elbow surgery.
John Smoltz is trying to pitch through soreness in the back of his shoulder, and Chuck James is a bit of a question mark. He sustained a partially torn rotator cuff last year and wasn’t ready to go at the start of the season.
“We’ve been hit hard early on,” Glavine said. “Hopefully, we’re getting it all out of our system. Once everyone comes back, maybe we’ll have no more issues the rest of the season.”
Cubs 3, Pirates 2
Rich Hill won for the first time in three starts, Mark DeRosa doubled and drove in a run and host Chicago won for the ninth time in 12 games.
Hill (1-0) combined with four relievers on a six-hitter, allowing one run, three hits and three walks in five innings. Kerry Wood pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.
Ian Snell (2-1) lost for the first time in seven starts since Sept. 8.
Mets 6, Phillies 4
Johan Santana struck out 10 over seven innings, David Wright went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and visiting New York beat Philadelphia for the third straight time.
Santana (2-2) allowed three runs and four hits, outpitching Cole Hamels (2-2) in a matchup of two of the best left-handers in the majors.
Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs hit a three-run homer off reliever Aaron Heilman to make it 5-4, but the Mets bullpen held on. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Brewers 5, Reds 2
Ben Sheets improved to 3-0 with five dominating innings before a tight pitching arm forced him from the game, and visiting Milwaukee held on.
Bill Hall hit a two-run homer off Bronson Arroyo (0-2), who gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings. The lanky right-hander hasn’t lasted six innings in any of his four starts.
Nationals 6, Marlins 4
Nick Johnson hit a three-run double and drove in four runs, helping visiting Washington snap a three-game skid. The Nationals had lost 12 of their last 13.
Tim Redding (3-1) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on three hits, while striking out a career-high 10. Jon Rauch pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his third save.
Johnson’s timely hit came on a full count. The runs were charged to Justin Miller (1-1).
Cardinals 11, Giants 1
Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run fourth inning, Skip Schumaker and Chris Duncan each had two RBIs and host St. Louis managed a season high for runs.
Matt Cain (0-2) allowed a personal-high nine runs on eight hits in 3 2-3 innings. He also gave up a two-run homer to Duncan in the third.
Todd Wellemeyer (2-0) matched his career high with seven strong innings.
Rockies 11, Astros 5
Troy Tulowitzki had three RBIs, Garrett Atkins homered and had three RBIs, and Colorado won at Houston less than 20 hours after winning a 22-inning marathon in San Diego.
Franklin Morales (1-1) gave up five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in five innings. Colorado’s bullpen, a night after pitching 15 innings, gave up only two hits.
Chris Sampson (0-2) was pulled in the first inning after giving up six runs and six hits.
Diamondbacks 9, Padres 0
Conor Jackson had four hits, including two triples and a home run, and Arizona routed visiting San Diego a night after the Padres played 22 innings in a loss to Colorado.
The Padres fell behind 6-0 in the first inning and offered little resistance to Arizona starter Dan Haren (3-0), who gave up three hits in seven innings.
Arizona extended its dominance of San Diego’s Greg Maddux (2-1), who allowed nine runs and 13 hits in seven innings.
Add A Comment