DEL.ICIO.USThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/05/08
Coming off a dreadful trip that wrapped up an injury-plagued, cringe-inducing April, the Braves came home to a perfect antidote to many of their recent woes.
Cincinnati Reds pitching.
 Pouya Dianat/AJC | ||
| Braves' Chipper Jones is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the second inning. Jones had five RBIs as the Braves piled on 14 runs on the visitng Cincinnati Reds. | ||
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Chipper Jones homered and drove in five runs, and the first three in the Braves' lineup totaled 10 hits and 10 RBIs in a 14-7 win Sunday at Turner Field. The Braves pounded starter Bronson Arroyo and the Cincy bullpen to complete a three-game sweep.
Tom Glavine gave up six runs without making it out of the fifth inning, but the Braves' 19-hit performance rendered that a mere footnote.
"If we play like we did the last few days, it doesn't matter who we play," said second baseman Kelly Johnson, who went 4-for-6 with three doubles in the leadoff position.
"Hopefully this is the beginning of it all."
Mark Kotsay moved up to the No. 2 spot in place of sick Yunel Escobar and contributed three hits including a homer, while major league batting leader Jones continued to blaze with three hits and his 15th career five-RBI game.
"As long as we crush people to death, the rotation and bullpen should be fine," quipped Jones, who had a three-run homer in the seven-run second inning and a two-run single in a four-run fifth.
Fourth-place Atlanta evened its record at 15-15 to stay two games behind East leader Philadelphia in the National League's closest division. The Braves are off today before a three-game series with San Diego, which has lost 14 of 18.
The Braves' disparity is startling: They are 11-4 at home with a .321 batting average and 2.98 ERA, and 4-11 on the road with a .252 average and 4.23 ERA.
"We've just got to find a way to play on the road like we do here," said Jones, who's hitting .425 with team-highs of nine homers and 27 RBIs. "To be aggressive [on the road] and step on somebody's throat when we have them down."
Glavine was shaky and remained winless in five starts this season. But it didn't matter after Atlanta hitters blitzed Arroyo (1-4) and Josh Fogg for 12 runs before the 13th Braves out was recorded.
"Good day to hit, I think," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
"Tommy had a little trouble. Arroyo had trouble. The ball was flying. Everybody in the lineup hit."
The Braves racked up 34 hits and 23 runs in wins Saturday and Sunday, after totaling 38 hits and 13 runs over their previous five games, including four consecutive losses to finish a 1-4 road trip.
When someone mentioned to Jones that it would be nice if the Braves could bottle some of the offense for their next close game — they're 0-9 in one-run games — the veteran third baseman laughed.
"Yeah, but we like blowouts, too," Jones said. "We had a good day. I feel bad for Glav. He's pitched great. He had a tough day today, but he'll be all right."
Glavine was charged with seven hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings, and his ERA climbed from 2.60 to 4.50.
The 42-year-old left-hander was an out short of qualifying for his first win. He's been stuck on 303 career wins for nine starts dating to last season.
"These games [with a big early lead] aren't always easy to pitch in, especially when you're struggling with location," said Glavine, who was pulled after issuing consecutive walks in the fifth inning, when mountainous Adam Dunn came to bat with the bases loaded and the lead down to 8-6.
Lefty Royce Ring (1-0) got a first-pitch flyout. He's stranded all 16 runners inherited this season, tied for the lead among National League relievers.
The Braves pushed it back to a six-run margin with four in the bottom of the inning, including Johnson's RBI double. He has five doubles in the past two games, after hitting two previously this season.
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