ATLANTA – Chipper Jones hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and drove in three runs, leading the Atlanta Braves over the New York Mets 4-2 Monday.

Andruw Jones also hit his major league-leading 45th homer for the Braves, who improved to 49-20 against the Mets at Turner Field, including 5-1 this year. Atlanta estimated his home run went 452 feet, the sixth-longest at Turner Field and the longest by a Brave.

Chipper Jones hit an RBI double that tied the score in the first and homered in the eighth against Steve Trachsel (1-1). Jones has 34 homers against the Mets, second among active players to Barry Bonds’ 35, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He also has a .337 career average in 531 at-bats against New York with 102 RBIs.

Chipper and Andruw Jones homered in the same game for the 48th time, most among active teammates.

New York has lost five of six and seven of nine after going 9-2 from Aug. 19-26. The Mets began the day 21/2 games behind Philadelphia, the NL wild-card leader.

Andruw Jones’ homer gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead in the fourth, but New York tied the score in the eighth when David Wright tagged up at third and beat Jones’ throw from center to give Ramon Castro a sacrifice fly against Blaine Boyer (2-1). The rookie right-hander had pitched 15 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Kyle Farnsworth pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances, going 4-for-4 with for Atlanta.

Trachsel, making his second straight since returning from back surgery, allowed four runs, seven hits and two walks in 7 1-3 innings. He gave up Rafael Furcal’s leadoff single in the eighth, caught Marcus Giles’ bunt attempt, then gave up Chipper Jones’ 16th home run of the season.

Braves starter John Thomson allowed one run and four hits in five innings. Thompson, who missed nearly three months with a strained tendon in his right middle finger, is 0-2 with an 7.03 ERA in five starts since returning from the disabled list Aug. 13.

A day after Dan Kolb allowed five runs in the 12th inning of an 8-3 loss to Cincinnati, Atlanta’s bullpen labored. Kyle Davies, who pitched two innings, was helped in the seventh when right fielder Jeff Francoeur caught Carlos Beltran’s fly ball in shallow right with the bases loaded and one out and threw a perfect strike to catcher Johnny Estrada, who tagged out Victor Diaz.

Francoeur, who was called up July 7, has 11 assists, tying New York’s Cliff Floyd and Florida’s Miguel Cabrera for the NL lead among outfielders.

Beltran put the Mets ahead with an RBI double in the first.

Notes: Atlanta is 9-4 overall against the Mets this year. … Trachsel also popped up a bunt attempt. … The Mets purchased the contract of RHP Danny Graves from Triple-A Norfolk. Graves went 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA in five games with Norfolk. … Braves LHP Mike Hampton (herniated disc), eligible to come off the DL Sunday, is to throw four simulated innings on Wednesday. … Atlanta 1B Adam LaRoche is 4-for-82 (.049) since Aug. 19… Willie Stargell has the most homers against the Mets (60). Chipper Jones is tied for eighth.

AP-ES-09-05-05 1626EDT


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.