Post by buwu on Dec 21, 2012 6:29:14 GMT -5
ATLANTA -- Kris Medlen did his part to ensure Chipper Jones last regular-season home game was a win. Dick Butkus Jersey . Then again, all of the Atlanta Braves have been winning a lot with Medlen on the mound. The Braves won for a major league record 23rd straight time in games started by Medlen, beating the New York Mets 6-2 on Sunday as a sellout crowd cheered Jones every move. Medlen (10-1) gave up one unearned run and three hits in six innings, adding to his momentum heading into the post-season. The Braves have already clinched an NL wild-card spot and are on track to host the one-game playoff, which Medlen would start. "I think the best part about it is my name is in the history books, but its a team thing," Medlen said. "Its a really cool feeling. Like I said, were not done. I hope we keep going." According to STATS LLC research going back to 1921, only two other teams won 22 straight starts by a pitcher: the New York Giants with Carl Hubbell (1936-37) and the Yankees with Whitey Ford (1950-53). Fords streak was interrupted by military service. With Washingtons 10-4 loss to St. Louis, the Braves gained a game in the NL East and trail the first-place Nationals by three games. The Nationals have a magic number of one for clinching the division. The Braves close the regular season with three games at Pittsburgh. The Mets (73-86) topped 2011s loss total and ensured their most losses since a 70-92 record in 2009. Atlanta is 12-0 in Medlens starts this season after he moved to the rotation on July 31. The teams streak of 23 straight wins in Medlens starts began in 2010. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he was thinking of the post-season by limiting Medlen to six innings. "If we were able to do that, get him the win, get the team the win and keep him right where we wanted in terms of pitches and innings, that was a good day," Gonzalez said. The Mets only run off Medlen was set up by first baseman Freddie Freemans throwing error on Justin Turners grounder in the third. The wild throw to Medlen, who was covering first base, allowed Ruben Tejada, who singled, to score from second. David Ross hit a three-run homer in the second off Jenrry Mejia (1-2). Jones had a single and two walks and wouldnt agree to come out of the game early. "I tried to pinch-hit for him, get a big ovation for him," Gonzalez said. "He said, I want to finish this. Thats just the way he is." Jones parents were in Atlanta for the series. "To be honest with you, I saw us winning this game early and I wanted to go give my mom and dad a hug after the game," Jones said. "If I had taken myself out of the game, Id be in (the clubhouse) watching fantasy football." The retiring 40-year-old slugger said he had "a lot of relief" the weekend was over. "Im glad its over and we can go to Pittsburgh and finish out the year and get ready for the next one back here when all the fun is going to start," Jones said. Jones teammates stayed behind in the dugout as he ran onto the field to a standing ovation to start the game. The Braves joined the ovation, and even some New York players applauded him. Mets third base coach Tim Teufel walked over and shook Jones hand, and finally the Braves joined Jones on the field. "Its a well-deserved tribute," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We all salute him in his career. Hes a great, great player." Jones was immediately tested as he made a dive to his left to make a stop on a grounder from Mets leadoff hitter Ruben Tejada. The All-Star third baseman made a one-hop throw to first base from his knees for the out. He made another diving stop on a sharply hit grounder by Scott Hairston to end the inning. Braves chanted "Lets go, Chipper!" when he batted in the second, and booed Mejia for walking him. Jones first hit of his final regular-season home series came with his third-inning single, ending a 0-for-13 drought that included four walks. He tipped his helmet to the fans before his at-bats in the first and seventh innings. With fans standing in the seventh, Jones walked again. Jones received another loud ovation when he took the field in the ninth. Fans chanted "Thank you, Chipper" as the inning started and then "Chipper! Chipper!" with two outs. The Braves scored a run in the fifth on doubles by Michael Bourn and Jason Heyward. Andrelton Simmons doubled in Dan Uggla in the sixth off Collin McHugh and scored on Bourns single. Mejia gave up four runs on six hits in five innings. "I thought he threw the ball good today," Collins said. "He made a real bad throw to Ross, right down the middle. But his two-seamer was the best one Ive seen him have." The Mets scored one run off Cory Gearrin in the ninth on a double by Ike Davis, a walk to Lucas Duda and a single by Andres Torres. Closer Craig Kimbrel recorded the final out on a grounder by Fred Lewis for his 42nd save. Bourn was a late addition to Atlantas lineup after missing six games with a sprained left thumb. Medlen lined a foul ball into the Mets dugout in the fourth, hitting catcher Josh Thole. Tholes right ear was red and swollen but he said he passed a concussion test. "I just saw the doctor and theres no issue, other than this big ear I have," Thole said. "It got me more on the cartilage of my ear, I think. Thats what saved me. It definitely could have been worse." NOTES: The sellout crowd of 50,635 raised the Braves attendance for the season at 2,420,171, a slight increase from their 2011 total. ... Following Collins lead, the Mets had a theme dress day, with all the players and coaches wearing football jerseys -- NFL or college -- to the park. The team had a similar hockey jersey day earlier in the season. ... Mets rookie RHP Jeurys Familia will make his first career start Monday against Floridas Josh Johnson. Familia has an 8.64 ERA in seven games in relief. R.A. Dickey is scheduled to start on Tuesday. ... LHP Paul Maholm will face Pirates LHP Jeff Locke on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Walter Payton Jersey . -- The end of the season hit the Phoenix Coyotes particularly hard. Brian Urlacher Womens Jersey . The slugger hit a tying solo homer with two out in the seventh inning and the Red Sox rallied to beat the Blue Jays 5-1 on Tuesday night. www.officialchicagobearsgear.com/tim-jennings-jerseys . Louis. Descalso and Allen Craig both homered to back Adam Wainwright, and the Cardinals held off the Houston Astros 4-3 after a scare in the eighth inning. Dan Hampton Jersey . Brian Ebersole, who is coming off a June 22 decision over T.J. Waldburger, has agreed to step in for the fighter from Mississauga, Ont., against James Head. Roberto Garza Jersey . They will have enough time to rest as they get ready for a second straight trip to the Western Conference finals. Westbrook scored 28 points, Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the two All-Stars skipped their usual rest periods to power the Thunder ahead in the second half for a 106-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the West semifinals on Monday night. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is returning to Texas for further examination of a sinus problem that has forced him to miss two straight games. Hamilton tops the majors with 42 home runs. He left Tuesdays series opener in the fourth inning with a recurring sinus problem that makes it tough for him to breathe. "Everybody in my familys been sick," Hamilton said before the AL West leaders took batting practice. "The last five or six days Ive been battling something. Anytime I get sick, it usually turns into a sinus infection. Sometimes it can cause me to be off-kilter, off-balance, but this is the first time its caused me not to be able to focus the way I want to on the field." "The more you run when you cant breathe as good, you get a little dizzy, a little thrown off. It just is what it is. If your heads a little stopped up, you can get a little starry-eyed, dizzy. I had the MRI just to make sure everything was good to go. My eyesight is great. I got that checked out. Its 20-15. It used to be 20-10, but Im getting a little older. Thats good, but all the congestion thats in there is slowing things down a bit as far as depth perception and things like that. Brian Urlacher Jersey. " Hamilton entered Thursday with one more home run than Detroits Miguel Cabrera. Thats the only Triple Crown category Cabrera is trailing in as he attempts to become the first Triple Crown winner since Bostons Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. "Maybe Im sick for a reason. Maybe its his time," Hamilton said. "I dont really care about holding on to the home run lead. Hes a good dude and hes played consistently well for a long time. It would be cool if there was another winner. Theres nobody Id rather see win it than him." Fellow Texas slugger Adrian Beltre was back in the lineup for the AL West leaders on Thursday night against the Angels. Both players missed Wednesdays game with ailments. Beltre sat out one game with abdominal discomfort and wasnt in the Rangers initial lineup Thursday, but talked his way into the cleanup spot as a designated hitter after batting practice. The Rangers road trip concludes with three weekend games in Seattle. ' ' '