--3B Chipper Jones told manager Bobby Cox to put him in Sunday's lineup after missing the first two games of the three-game series against the Mets with back spasms. Jones' first major league home run came at Shea Stadium, where he sees the ball especially well, and he flew in his family for the Braves' last games there. Jones finished 3-for-5 with an RBI.
--LHP Mike Hampton was given his choice of assignments when his Friday start at Shea Stadium was rained out, forcing a doubleheader Saturday. Hampton chose to match up with Mets LHP Johan Santana in the first game Saturday. That competitiveness is one reason why manager Bobby Cox believes Hampton will want to pitch again next season. Hampton three six innings of two-run ball, while Santana tossed seven innings of two-run ball in the Braves' 3-2 win. --2B Kelly Johnson was out of the starting lineup Sunday; INF Martin Prado played second. Johnson went 4-for-9 starting in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. But Johnson's 0-for-7 mark in his appearances against Mets LHP Oliver Perez made it easier for manager Bobby Cox to give Johnson a rest. Johnson's pinch-hit single in the Braves' five-run ninth inning extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
--SS Yunel Escobar was out of the starting lineup Sunday to rest various aches and pains; INF Brent Lillibridge played short. Escobar had hit safely in 11 straight games (.386, 17 for 44) with three home runs and eight RBIs, but he grounded out in a seventh-inning pinch-hit appearance.
--1B Casey Kotchman went 5-for-7 starting both games of Saturday's doubleheader and was 1-for-5 Sunday. Since Sept. 5, he has hit safely in seven of nine games with four multi-hit games.
BY THE NUMBERS: .050 -- RF Jeff Francoeur's batting average with the bases loaded and fewer than two outs, through Sept. 11.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't think even we've lost that way." -- 2B Kelly Johnson, after the Braves beat the Rockies 5-4 in 10 innings on a balk. Johnson scored the game-winning run.
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