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Jones, Braves face Rangers in rubber match

Jun 19, 2008 - 1:12 PM Atlanta (36-37) at Texas (36-37), 2:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Chipper Jones will try to keep his batting average at or above .400 when the Atlanta Braves meet the Texas Rangers on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Jones homered and the Braves rallied for three runs in the ninth inning Wednesday en route to a 5-2 victory over the Rangers. The 36-year-old slugger went 2-for-5, keeping his major league-best batting at .400.

The current leader in National League All-Star voting at third base, Jones has 16 home runs and 45 RBI this season.

Texas hopes righthander Scott Feldman (1-3, 4.84 ERA) can shutdown Jones and the rest of Atlanta's offense.

Feldman was roughed up for seven runs - six earned - on eight hits and two walks over five frames in Friday's 7-1 loss to the New York Mets.

The Braves will counter with Charlie Morton (1-0, 4.50), who is making just his second career start. The 24-year-old righthander gave up three runs and five hits with four strikeouts over six innings en route to his first career win - a 9-4 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday.