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Jones' walk-off hit helps Braves keep pace with Mets

Aug 15, 2007 - 5:03 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Bobby Cox got tossed, but Chipper Jones helped put him in a better mood.

Jones hit a walk-off RBI double in the ninth inning to help the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

Willie Harris drew a leadoff walk from Steve Kline (0-2) and Kelly Johnson reached on a bunt single, bringing Jones to the plate and chasing Kline.

Jones laced a double to left field off Randy Messenger, scoring Harris and helping the Braves win a game in which Cox broke the all-time ejections mark.

"It's a situation where you gotta realize that it might come back to you and you might get another chance," said Jones, who was hitless in four at-bats prior to the double. "I got ahead in the count, in a situation to sit on something."

Cox was ejected for the 132nd time in the fifth inning by plate umpire Ted Barrett after arguing balls and strikes on a called third strike on Jones, helping him pass longtime New York Giants manager John McGraw on the all-time list.

"It's absolutely no factor," said Cox, who is not particularly proud of the record. "It's nothing. It means I've been around a long time, that's all."

"Bobby's kind of been biting his tongue lately because he's embarrassed about the record," Jones said. "But it was inevitable."

But luckily for Atlanta, the 35-year-old Jones was not tossed along with his long-time skipper even though the slugger hurled his bat and helmet some 80-feet towards the Atlanta dugout.

"He and I didn't see eye-to-eye on the strike zone," Jones said. "It was a ball. I haven't seen it yet. But I haven't seen it yet. I'm 120 percent sure it was a ball. It's a helpless feeling when you don't know where the strike zone is.

"We really couldn't get it going. (The ejection) really seemed to kick start us. Everybody got a little ticked and realized that we're not going to wait for the umpire to ring us up."

Jones was not the only one who took exception to Barrett's strike zone.

"(Barrett) had a tough time behind the plate tonight," Giants first baseman Ryan Klesko said. "It was both sides. Guys were questioning his strike zone all night. They can't have great days all the time."

Rookie Yunel Escobar had a career-high four hits, including a game-tying two-run double in the sixth for Atlanta, which opened a six-game homestand, remained 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for first place in the National League East.

Bob Wickman (3-2) picked up the win after blowing a 4-3 lead in the ninth. Wickman had been outstanding at home, converting all nine save opportunities without allowing an earned run.

The burly righthander entered and got the first out before Dan Ortmeier hit a 3-1 fastball to right-center. Dave Roberts reached on an infield single and stole second, and Ray Durham drew an intentional walk before Randy Winn plated the tying run with a groundout to second.

But after issuing a free pass to rookie Rajai Davis to load the bases, Wickman stymied the threat by striking out former Brave Klesko to end the frame.

"I'm glad we got the win," Wickman said. "But it's not my job to get wins. My job is to get saves."

Atlanta took a 4-3 lead with a four-run sixth. With the Braves trailing, 3-0, in the sixth, newly acquired Mark Teixeira smashed his fifth homer as a Brave and 18th this season over the center field wall.

Brian McCann singled and Andruw Jones drew a one-out walk to chase Jack Taschner.

Escobar then laced a double into the right-center field gap, plating McCann and Jones to tie the game at 3-3. Matt Diaz broke the tie by smashing Scott Atchison's next pitch to right-center field, scoring Escobar.

Meanwhile, Barry Bonds, who hit his first major league homer across the street in old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, returned to Atlanta for the first time since besting the mark of former Brave Hank Aaron. A tribute to Bonds from Aaron was shown on the video board prior to the game to a smattering of boos and cheers.

Atlanta starter John Smoltz, who is one of five major leaguer hurlers to surrender eight homers to the all-time home run king, wanted no piece of Bonds in this one.

The 43-year-old Bonds opened - the scoring in the first by drawing a five-pitch walk. He advanced to third on Bengie Molina's double and scored on a single by Pedro Feliz for a 1-0 lead.

Bonds was walked intentionally in the third after Smoltz issued a two-out double to Winn. Klesko plated Winn and Bonds with a double to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.

Smoltz allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to remain winless since June 23.

Making his first start since 2005, Kevin Correia scattered four hits in 4 1/3 frames for the Giants, who have dropped seven of their last nine games.