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Jones, Braves seek sweep of lowly Padres

May 8, 2008 - 2:26 PM San Diego (12-22) at Atlanta (17-15) 1:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Chipper Jones looks to continue his torrid start and lead the Atlanta Braves to a three-game series sweep of the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Atlanta has won five straight games and improved to a National League-best 13-4 at home following Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Padres.

The Braves have been rolling along thanks in part to the red-hot bat of Jones, who has 10 home runs and 29 RBI to go along with a major-league leading .429 average.

Jones has two hits, including a double, while newly acquired Greg Norton provided the go-ahead, pinch-hit single in a three-run seventh inning Wednesday for the Braves.

A day later, Jo-Jo Reyes (1-0, 1.69 ERA) makes his second start of the season in place of the injured John Smoltz, who is likely going to return to the bullpen once he comes off the disabled list.

Reyes allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 9-1 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday.

San Diego, which has lost 12 of its last 15 games, will send reliever Wilfredo Ledezma to the hill.

Ledezma (0-0, 1.96) is making his first start of the season in place of Justin Germano, who has started the season 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA.