Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Chipper Jones smacked a two-run homer in the eighth to lift the Atlanta Braves over the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, in the second contest of a three-game set from Turner Field.
Chipper Jones’ Home Run The Difference In Braves Win Over Cubs
Jason Heyward drove in the other run for the Braves, who won 16-5 in the opener of this series on Monday and have opened the season with two straight wins for the second year in a row.
Jair Jurrjens went five innings in the start, allowing two unearned runs on three hits to pick up a no-decision. Peter Moylan (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up the win.
Ryan Theriot knocked in a run for the Cubs, who got a pair of hits from Alfonso Soriano. Starter Ryan Dempster took a no-decision after allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts in six frames of work. John Grabow (0-1) gave up the homer to Jones to take the loss.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Atlanta went ahead on Jones' homer. Grabow started the frame on the hill for Chicago and gave up a one-out double to Martin Prado. Jones then stepped to the plate and deposited the ball into the seats in left.
Billy Wagner came on in the top of the ninth and worked around a one-out single to pick up his first save since 2008.
Heyward got the Braves on the board in the second inning. Brian McCann worked a walk to get things started. Dempster then fanned Troy Glaus and Yunel Escobar, but McCann was able to steal second. Heyward stepped to the plate and hit an RBI double down the right field line.
Atlanta loaded the bases with one out during its next at-bat. However, Dempster worked out of the jam by striking out Glaus and Escobar.
The Cubs scored twice in the fifth to take a 2-1 edge. After Marlon Byrd walked, Soriano grounded a ball to third. Jones tossed the ball to second for the first out and Prado threw to first in an attempt to complete the double play. The first base umpire ruled that Soriano beat the throw in a controversial call.
The bases became loaded following a Mike Fontenot single and Geovany Soto walk. Dempster then hit a slow dribbler to first that Glaus mishandled, allowing a run to score. Theriot followed with a sacrifice fly to center.
Atlanta won four of the six 2009 meetings between these teams and took two of three from the Cubs in Chicago’s lone visit to Turner Field...The Braves went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded five...The Cubs went 0- for-4 with RISP and left six men on base.
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