Jones had his second straight two-homer game, leading the injury riddled Braves past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on Friday night. The Atlanta slugger hit a three-run shot off Derek Lowe in the fifth to break open a 2-0 game, then added a solo homer against Chan Ho Park in the seventh to make it 6-1.
"I wish I could explain or begin to illustrate to people how awesome the last couple of nights have been," said Jones, who has hit safely in 10 straight games. "This is one of those crazy streaks you get in once every couple of years. Not only am I getting pitches to hit, I'm doing ultimate damage with 'em."
The previous night, Jones went 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs in an 8-0 rout of the Florida Marlins. The 3-of-5 performance against the Dodgers raised his average to .455, with six homers and 18 RBIs.
The Braves had lost six of eight until Jones took matters into his own hands.
"It's good to come through for the team," he said, "when the team needs it most."
Replacement starter Jeff Bennett helped out, too.
He worked into the fifth without allowing a run but came up one out short of qualifying for the win. Manager Bobby Cox went to the bullpen after Bennett allowed a two-out double to Rafael Furcal, then walked Matt Kemp. Will Ohman (1-0) struck out Andre Ethier swinging and wound up with the win.
Bennett filled in for Tom Glavine, who came out of his last start with an ailing hamstring. The 303-game winner had hoped to start Saturday against the Dodgers, but the team announced during the game he was going on the disabled list for the first time in his 22-year career.
"The streak has come to an end," Glavine said glumly. "I feel like I'm letting people down. My job is to go out there and pitch."
Chuck James was recalled from Triple-A Richmond to start next. The Braves can only hope he does as well as Bennett, who was making his second start in eight appearances this season. He allowed just two hits - the first a comebacker off his right wrist - walked two and struck out four.
Even with a sore wrist, Bennett knew he couldn't come out with all the injuries that have struck the staff. Glavine is the fifth Atlanta pitcher to go on the DL already this season.
"I couldn't come out of the game right there with our bullpen the way it is and our starters and Glavine," Bennett said.
Andruw Jones, who spent his entire career with the Braves before signing with Los Angeles over the winter, returned to Atlanta for the first time in a visiting uniform. He struck out twice, walked and hit a meaningless double in the ninth.
Jones' reception was mostly cheers, including a standing ovation for his first at-bat, though the boos got louder as the game went on. He is hitting just .167 with no homers and two RBIs.
"It felt good, playing in the stadium you played in forever," he said. "It was good all around, seeing former teammates and family."
Chipper Jones was taken aback by those who jeered the 10-time Gold Glover.
"I was glad to see him get that hit," the Braves slugger said. "That ovation he got at the beginning of the game was nice. For some reason, it turned into boos. I didn't really appreciate that."
Andruw Jones shrugged it off. "If they boo you, they care about you," he said.
The Braves jumped ahead with two runs in the second, taking advantage when Mark Teixeira's grounder got through second baseman Jeff Kent for an error. Brian McCann followed with a double to the gap in left-center, and a couple of hits that never left the infield accounted for RBIs.
Jeff Francoeur reached on a slow roller down the third-base line, and Gregor Blanco bounced one up the middle that appeared to nick Lowe and deflect away, giving the rookie his first career RBI.
Blanco went 2-for-3 with a walk in his first career start.
Lowe (1-1) had a tough night. He also took a liner off his right foot and lasted just 4 1-3 innings, allowing eight hits, five runs (four earned) and walking four.
"They were taking target practice against Derek," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
Notes: Juan Pierre drove in the only Dodgers run with a pinch-hit single in the seventh. ... The Dodgers were held to five hits by five Atlanta pitchers. ... Ohman went 1 1-3 innings for the win. ... Dodgers 1B James Loney went 0-for-4 to snap a 15-game hitting streak. ... Braves SS Yunel Escobar has an 11-game hitting streak.
