SAN FRANCISCO — A day before his 39th birthday, Chipper Jones was out of the lineup Saturday afternoon with a sore knee.
That sentence might make the Braves and their fans cringe if the knee in question were Jones’ left. But it wasn’t his surgically repaired left knee, and the sore right knee didn’t seem a big concern in the clubhouse.
Rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman replaced Jones in the No. 3 spot in the order. Martin Prado moved from left field to third base, and Eric Hinske made his second start in left field.
Jones could return to the lineup as soon as Sunday’s series finale. But since the veteran switch-hitter says the knee hurts batting right-handed and not left, playing Sunday’s game against lefty Jonathan Sanchez is not a given.
“It’s his birthday; he’s got to play,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, smiling.
Jones hasn’t missed consecutive games all season. Saturday was the third game in 22 that Jones was out of the lineup and the first for any injury.
He said his right knee has been sore about 10 days and worsened Friday during a chilly night game at San Francisco. The Braves won 4-1, and he had a two-run double off the right-field wall in the four-run third inning — batting right-handed.
“It’s still a little sore,” he said Saturday morning. “I’ve got pain in the bottom part of my knee. I don’t know what it is or why it’s there. It’s getting to the point where it’s hurting to hit right-handed, and I wasn’t moving around too good defensively.”
“Hopefully this is just a day or two. I took my anti-inflammatories for the last two weeks. It’s still hurting.”
When does it bother him?
“When I push with that knee [swinging]. “I’m thinking it’s probably something related to favoring the other [knee].”
In August, Jones had season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, the same injury and surgery he had as a rookie in 1994.
Gonzalez said he had targeted Saturday to rest Jones, even before the third baseman told him after Friday’s game that his knee had become more painful.
Freeman bats third
Freeman’s rapid progress made him the hitter Gonzalez turned to Saturday to fill Jones’ important spot in the order. Not bad for a rookie hitting eighth a week ago.
Before going 1-for-5 on Saturday, Freeman hit .349 with a .462 on-base percentage in his previous 15 games, including 8-for-20 with three homers, six RBIs and seven walks in his past eight. He has struck out once in 10 games.
“Freddie’s hitting third today, huh?” Jones said. “Well, he’s the hottest guy in the lineup.”
Freeman, 21, has impressed with his defense since spring training, but in recent weeks his approach at the plate has drawn increased praise. Particularly his plate discipline and ability to use the whole field, to drive the ball the other way.
“He’s comfortable right now,” Jones said. “He’s not trying to do too much. He’s staying within himself and getting it done. There’s nothing better than a major league hitter with confidence. He’s got it.”
Venters’ strong return
After resting his sore left biceps for two days, Braves reliever Jonny Venters pitched a perfect eighth inning in Friday’s 4-1 win, continuing a dominant stretch for the left-hander. In his past eight appearances, he has limited opponents to an .038 average (1-for-26) with three walks and 10 strikeouts in 8 2/3 scoreless innings.
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