New York — Chipper Jones has had varying degrees of injuries to a wide range of body parts, but nothing quite like this.

The hot-hitting third baseman was scratched from the lineup Saturday morning after having severe back spasms 2-1/2 hours before the game with the Mets.

"It was the most unbelievable thing I've ever experienced in my life," Jones said afterward of the spasms, which literally brought him to his knees in pain. "It was crazy, like somebody sledge-hammered me in my back."

About six hours and several muscle-relaxers and treatment sessions later, Jones still couldn't move his torso laterally and was doubtful he'd recover quickly enough to play today's series finale against the Mets.

A more realistic target is Tuesday at Washington, after an off day Monday.

Jones said he never had any back spasms and had no advance warning. He felt good Friday, but awoke Saturday with tightness and thought he just needed to get "adjusted" by the Braves' trainer.

But while being interviewed by a reporter Saturday morning, Jones said he simply reached for a shirt when his back tightened and "completely gave out."

"He can't go," manager Bobby Cox said upon announcing the lineup change. "He can hardly breathe."

Jones led the majors with a .433 average and 39 hits, and his seven homers were tied for third in the National League before Saturday. He had a .489 average with six homers and 11 RBIs in his past eight games.

He started every game before Saturday, when he was replaced by Martin Prado.

The Braves purchased the contract of prospect Brent Lillibridge from Class AAA Richmond late Friday, after shortstop Yunel Escobar injured his right index finger bunting in the first inning Friday.

Until Escobar was used as a pinch runner in the eighth inning, the Cuban shortstop spent most of Saturday with an icy wrap around his swollen finger.

There are no plans to put him on the disabled list, and Escobar said Saturday he would start Tuesday's series opener at Washington.

Jones left two recent games in the late innings because of recurring soreness in his right quadriceps.

Lillibridge gets call

Only one week removed from the worst slump of his minor-league career, Lillibridge certainly wasn't expecting a promotion. He got one.

"Dream come true," he said. "Got the call, and starting the next day. However long I'm here for, I'm going to enjoy this and keep working for tomorrow."

He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Saturday in his major league debut.

After hitting below .100 in the first two weeks of Richmond's season, Lillibridge, 24, improved last week and had three hits Friday to raise his average to .195 with one homer, 12 RBIs and 21 strikeouts in 19 games.

"Definitely at the right time for me," said Lillibridge, who was summoned to the manager's office at Richmond late Friday and told to get to New York. "I feel confident at the plate now, and hope I can continue that here."

He was rated the Braves' No. 6 prospect after totaling 13 homers and 42 stolen bases at two minor-league levels in 2007.