It didn't matter that an injury forced Chipper Jones out of the starting lineup Sunday.
He could still hit.
Jones delivered a pinch-hit bases-loaded single in the seventh inning, sparking a seven-run outburst, as the Braves finished off an interleague sweep of Toronto with a 10-2 victory.
"It's the at-bat of the game," said Jones, who did not start all three games against the Blue Jays with a sprained right big toe. "I'm glad I got the opportunity. When you are just sitting there you're hoping you get an opportunity."
The Braves sent 10 batters to the plate in the decisive inning, breaking open a 2-2 game. The inning also featured Diory Hernandez's first major-league hit, Kelly Johnson's two-run double (following Jones' game-winner), an RBI sacrifice fly by Garret Anderson and a three-run homer by Brian McCann. Poor Martin Prado, who started at third base for Jones, made the first and last out of the inning.
It was the second homer of the game for McCann. He and Johnson hit first-inning homers and each now have five on the year.
Jones lined a single to right field that bounced off the glove of Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay. Even before he reached first base, Jones was signaling to the dugout that he did not want to be removed for a pinch-runner.
"I asked him in the fifth inning if he could go," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He said, 'I can hit. I don't know if I can run or not.' I had [pitcher Kris] Medlen ready to run. Chipper didn't want to use another player. He didn't understand who was going to run."
"Had I known that I would have come out," Jones said.
Jones' game winner came off Jason Frasor and then the parade of Braves' runs started.
"It was a first-pitch fastball up and away," Jones said. "I was trying to hit it to Augusta, is what I was trying to do.
"Since I've been out the last couple of days, I've made some adjustments with my swing. I had to. What I did today instantly worked. That guy throws awfully hard. I wasn't going to let him get ahead of me with a first-pitch fastball. If he wanted to throw me offspeed stuff he was going to have to go for strikes. Fortunately, I got one I could handle."
Jair Jurrjens (4-2) started for the Braves, but did not get the decision. He worked six innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He entered the game with a 1.96 ERA, tied for third in the National League and fourth in the majors. He allowed the Blue Jays at least one hit in every inning.
"It's too bad we didn't have it early so JJ could have picked up the win," Cox said. "He pitched superb baseball once again. ... He deserves better, that's for sure."
Jurrjens got six runs in his last outing against Colorado. However, in his six previous starts, the Braves scored just nine runs in the 37 innings he pitched.
"Even though I didn't win, the team won," Jurrjens said. "I don't think about all that. I just try to help the team."
The Braves concluded a nine-game homestand with a 6-3 record. They entered the homestand with just five wins at Turner Field all season — which included a three-game sweep of Washington in April to start the home season. The Braves are now tied with the New York Mets for second place in the NL East at 23-20, 1-1/2 games behind Philadelphia.
