Braves Notes:  Chipper Powers Braves

Sat, Aug 14, 10:53:55PM
by Carroll Rogers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Los Angeles -- Chipper Jones' recent power surge couldn't have come at a better time for the Braves, who rode his four home runs in three games in taking a four-game winning streak into Saturday night.

Jones needed a home run Saturday against the Dodgers to match his four-game home-run streak of July 6-9. He's hit 17 home runs in his last 36 games to reach 31 for the season. He's three away from the career high of 34 he set last season and he's on pace to hit 43, which is only one shy of Andres Galarraga's 44 last year. Prior to that, David Justice was the last Brave to hit 40 or more home runs when he hit 40 in 1993.

"Ever since Javy (Lopez) went down, everybody's had to step it up," Jones said. "I don't ever try to hit them. You've just got to pick out the right pitch, and right now I'm getting the pitches I'm looking for."

More evidence of his good pitch selection at the plate was his .333 average in August, and he extended to 38 the Atlanta record for consecutive games in which he's reached base.

Another contributing factor, Jones said, is having Gerald Williams at the top of the order getting on base, which helps Jones get better pitches to hit and helps his focus at the plate.

Williams was leading off for the ninth consecutive game on Saturday night. Williams is hitting .393 in those games with two home runs and 12 RBIs. The Braves are 7-1 in those games.

"Ever since Gerald's been leading off, we've had runners on base," Jones said. "It makes my job easier and Brian (Jordan's) job easier."

New middle infield

Despite Bret Boone's recent hot streak--he's hitting .317 in August--he sat down for Saturday night's game as manager Bobby Cox chose to use a new middle infield to face Kevin Brown. Keith Lockhart took Boone's place at second base and Walt Weiss started at shortstop instead of Jose Hernandez.

Cox said he wanted to get the two bench players some at-bats as the Braves head for the stretch run. But their numbers against Brown back up his decision. Boone was hitting .250 (4-for-16) against Brown in his career. Lockhart is hitting .385 (5-for-13). Weiss is hitting .333 (7-for-21) against Brown for his career, while Hernandez is hitting .200 (1-for-5).

Weiss' start was his first in a week. For Lockhart, it was his third start of the week, one of which he had to leave in the first inning after a collision at first base.

"It's Sunday day games or someone pretty nasty," Lockhart said of his usual starting opportunities. "I don't think (Brown) is a guy you ever get real comfortable with."

Lockhart was hitting .333 in his last 19 games since July 18. In his last nine starts he was hitting at a .324 clip, scored eight runs and driven in three.

"It helps," Lockhart said. "The more you can play in a game, the more you see different pitches, sliders, change-ups, stuff you don't see in batting practice."

Etc.

Cox indicated Saturday that if Williams continues to hit the way he has been, he'll stay with Williams in left field and Ryan Klesko at first base, even after Randall Simon returns from the minor leagues on Tuesday. "Don't mess with it," Cox said. "Baseball is a game of streaks most of the time." . . . Through Friday's game, the Braves bullpen had a 3.64 ERA, which was third in the National League behind the Reds' 2.95 and the Mets' 3.57.