ATLANTA (AP) -Braves third baseman Chipper Jones sat out against the New York Mets on Saturday night because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.
Jones, who is trying to win his first batting title, went 0-for-3 Friday during Atlanta’s 9-5 loss to the Mets and was forced out of the game early by the injury. His average fell to .362, nine points better than St. Louis’ Albert for best in the majors
“I can’t really throw, as you saw last night,” Jones said Saturday. “My throws have been terrible. I can’t get it across the infield, and swinging is worse. I couldn’t get the bat head where I needed to get it last night. I’m having to cut off my swing. I’m a detriment to us right now.”
With eight games remaining, Jones is about three points behind the top average in a season by a switch-hitter, a .3649 mark set by Mickey Mantle in 1957.
Jones hit a career-best .337 last year and finished three points behind Colorado’s Matt Holliday for the NL batting crown.
ints to .310, second-best in history by a switch-hitter with at least 6,000 at-bats. Frankie Frisch had a .316 career average, followed by Jones, Pete Rose (.303) and Mantle (.298).
In a loss at Washington on Aug. 31, Jones joined Eddie Mathews as the only players to begin their careers with 14 straight seasons of 20 or more homers. Jones hasn’t homered since hitting his 407th in a Sept. 10 win over Colorado.
The Braves, who began the night with four straight losses and five defeats in six games, are 9-23 this season when Jones didn’t play and 11-25 in games he didn’t start. He had reached base safely in 41 straight games, the third longest streak in the majors this season.
“I’ve been in a lot of pain,” Jones said. “I might have to get this checked out after the season. Hopefully it’s just tendinitis like they said – nothing structural.”
Jones decided against a cortisone shot because stiffness, an ensuing side effect, would keep him out two to three days. He has been taking medicine for pain as well as an anti-inflammatory.
“I’ve been able to cope with it, but last night it was just at a different level,” he said. “So we gambled and took the dose-pack last night, and it still hurt.”
To qualify for a batting title, a player must have 502 plate appearances. Jones has 523, including 87 walks and one hit by pitch.
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