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Jones' record night leads Braves to win

Jul 6, 2007 - 7:04 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Chipper Jones' milestone home runs could not have come at a better time.

Jones hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the sixth inning and added another in the eighth as the Atlanta Braves salvaged a series split with an 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

In a back-and-forth contest, Jones hit a 3-2 pitch from reliever Eric Stults (0-1) into the left-center field seats for his 14th homer of the season and a 7-6 lead.

Jones' homers were more than just the difference in the game. He tied the Atlanta team record of 371 - set by Dale Murphy in 1990 - with his first blast and the second, a shot to right-center off Chin-hui Tsao, eclipsed Murphy's mark.

"It's a great feeling to pass one of the best players in Atlanta history," Jones said. "It was a big run for us at that point in the game, since it gave our team the lead, but with the way both teams were swinging the bats tonight, I didn't think that would be the game-winner."

Hank Aaron holds the Braves' franchise mark of 733 homers.

Coincidentally, Jones homered from both sides of the plate for the first time since accomplishing the feat seven years ago to the day against the Montreal Expos.

Jones' blasts made a winner of Peter Moylan (3-1), who pitched two scoreless innings. Chad Paronto, Wilfredo Ledezma and Rafael Soriano each worked a scoreless frame before closer Bob Wickman tossed a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 20 opportunities.

The contest shaped up as a pitchers' duel, but Atlanta jumped all over Los Angeles ace Brad Penny, the majors' ERA leader, scoring three runs in the second inning.

However, Braves starter Tim Hudson could not handle prosperity, surrendering leads of 3-0 and 4-2 in the second and third innings, respectively.

"Everyone thought this was going to be a pitchers' duel," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "But that's why baseball is such a weird game. Our bullpen did a great job coming in and shutting them down."

Penny, who had won a career-high five straight decisions, threw over 30 pitches in the first two innings and allowing just his third homer of the season - a solo shot by Jeff Francoeur in the second. The blast was Francoeur's first since June 12, a span of 77 at-bats.

"(Penny) left a lot of pitches up tonight, and no matter who you face, teams will take advantage of that," Los Angeles manager Grady Little said.

The 6-4 righthander appeared to be bothered by a finger injury in the first but stayed in the game after being attended to by team trainers.

"My finger felt fine, I just didn't pitch the way I know I can pitch," said Penny, who surrendered more than one run for just the second time in his last nine starts.

Despite struggling on the mound, Penny delivered at the plate, hitting an RBI double in the second inning and a two-run single in the third for a career-high three RBI.

"At least I contributed a little with my bat tonight, but I'd rather pitch a good game anytime and keep other teams off the scoreboard," Penny said.

Penny left after allowing six runs and a nine hits in a season-low four innings, failing to become the National League's first 11-game winner.

As for Hudson, he failed to win his third straight start, lasting a season-low three innings and yielding six runs and 10 hits.

"I'm going to enjoy the short break and rest up so I can finish up the rest of the season strong," Hudson said.