Chipper sits out game with sore abdomen muscle

By CARROLL ROGERS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chipper Jones was out of the lineup Sunday, this time with a sore abdomen muscle.

He missed three games early last month with an oblique strain, but Jones was told this is a different area of the same muscle. He doesn’t suspect they’re related. The area he hurt a few weeks back was more to the side, while this pain is right under his rib cage in the front.

“I started feeling it a couple days ago, and it just gradually got worse,” Jones said. “It was sore. When [the trainer] was poking and prodding on it [Saturday] night, I almost came out of my chair.”

He was hoping with the off day Monday, he would be ready to play again Tuesday night in Houston.

“I’ve never had pain in the front part of my abdomen before,” Jones said. “We’ll see what a couple days do for it.”

Jones was out of the lineup for the second time in five games, after getting a rest Wednesday in Florida.

He has only eight hits in his past 66 at-bats (.121) going back to Aug. 16. That brings his batting average down to .272. If this keeps up, it would be only the fifth time in his 15-year career Jones has hit under .300 for a season.

“I’m not worried about hitting .270,” Jones said. “I’m not worried about 65 RBIs. I’m not worried about 16 homers. Now it’s just basically going out and focusing on whichever situation arises during the course of the game where I can influence the game. If there’s a run to be driven in, got to do it. If I’m leading off an inning and I’ve got to take some pitches, draw a walk, got to do it. That’s all I’m really focused on. From a numbers standpoint, this season went out the window a long time ago.”

Roster moves

The Braves recalled reliever Manny Acosta from Class AAA Gwinnett once his 10 days in the minors were up. Acosta had been sent down Aug. 27 after needing 50 pitches in two innings. The Braves called up Buddy Carlyle to give them a fresh arm.

Acosta appeared in three games for Gwinnett, giving up one earned run in 5 1/3 innings.

The Braves also sent Luis Valdez back to Gwinnett, despite having an expanded roster. The Gwinnett Braves clinched a wildcard playoff spot on Saturday, so that played a part in the decision.

“Give them their closer back for the playoffs,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “And give him a chance to pitch more than he would here. Then we’ll re-evaluate.”

Valdez had gone 26-for-36 in save chances for Gwinnett and was leading the International League in saves when he was promoted on Tuesday. He made one appearance for Atlanta on Thursday in Florida, going one inning, allowing one hit and one walk.

The Braves will consider bringing him back once the playoffs are over.