Associated Press
The National League Roundup …
ATLANTA ó Chipper Jones blushed over his 399th homer. Greg Norton was just relieved that he drove in more runs than he gave up with his shaky defense.
The torrid-hitting Jones moved within one homer of No. 400, hitting a three-run shot, and Norton came through with a two-run double in the eighth inning that rallied the Atlanta Braves to another come-from-behind victory, 5-4 over the slumping Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.
Jones moved ahead of former Braves great Dale Murphy on the career list, and pulled into a tie with Hall of Famer Al Kaline and one of Jones’ ex-teammates, Andres Galarraga.
The next homer ó and it shouldn’t take long the way Jones is hitting ó will make him the 43rd player in baseball history with 400.
“I don’t ever think about that kind of stuff until you bring it up,” Jones told reporters. “It makes me blush.”
His face actually was a light shade of red, though that may have had more to do with the sweltering night at Turner Field ó 87 degrees for the first pitch.
Jones, who actually managed to raise an average that already was over .400, sparked the Braves in the eighth with a leadoff single against Matt Lindstrom (1-1). Mark Teixeira followed with a double into the left-field corner, putting runners at second and third.
Norton, a .171-hitting utilityman forced to start because the Braves have two outfielders on the disabled list, drove the first pitch he saw just inside the first-base bag. The ball didn’t stop rolling until it got to the corner, bringing home the tying and winning runs.
The Braves actually won a one-run game, improving their mark in those contests to3-16.Phillies 3, Reds 2
HILADELPHIA ó Pat Burrell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Adam Eaton pitched 62/3 impressive innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2.
Ken Griffey Jr. walked as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning to remain one shy of 600 home runs. Griffey wasn’t in the Reds’ lineup for the second straight game because of general soreness. He’s been bothered by a sore left knee, though he could return Wednesday.
Junior represented the tying run when he came up with one out, but walked on four pitches and pitcher Bronson Arroyo ran for him. A sellout crowd gave Griffey a standing ovation and booed when reliever Tom Gordon didn’t throw a strike.
Eaton (2-3), who once played in Kannapolis for the Piedmont Boll Weevils, has won consecutive starts after going winless in his first 10.
Brad Lidge finished for his 15th save in as many chances.
Astros 2, Pirates 0
PITTSBURGH ó Lance Berkman and Miguel Tejada doubled in runs, Wandy Rodriguez pitched six shutout innings in his second start after coming off the disabled list, and Houston ended a five-game losing streak.