Braves: Jones sizzles since return

ATLANTA - Those who were becoming increasingly exasperated by Chipper Jones' injury-induced game of hide-and-seek with the Braves' starting lineup got a full-blown blast this weekend of what the third baseman can do when healthy.

Jones' two-run double Saturday provided the game-winning boost in the Braves' 9-5 victory against Arizona.

He followed that 3-for-4 day with another one Sunday, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of Atlanta's 13-8 rout of the Diamondbacks.

Jones, who returned Friday from a shoulder injury that had sidelined him since Aug. 2, went 8-for-12 with six RBI in the series.

"I think it gives us a big lift," right fielder Jeff Francoeur said of Jones' presence and production. "You can just tell when he's in the groove. If he gets anything to hit, he doesn't miss it."

The weekend far exceeded whatever expectations Jones had for his return, he said, even though he was able to take batting practice while recovering from the strained rotator cuff he suffered when diving for a grounder in Cincinnati.

"I didn't really expect eight hits in the three-game series," said Jones, who's missed 52 games this season with a variety of injuries. "You know, you don't know when the streak is going to come. You hope it does come at some point."

Apparently, it's here.

Dating to July 29, a week and a half after returning from the foot injury that sidelined him for six weeks, Jones is 16-for-29 (.552) with 14 RBI.

"The thing I'm impressed about is him getting back in the lineup and getting that hot," manager Bobby Cox said. "I'm really happy with that. He's not really rusty at all."

Getting himself ahead and into good hitter's counts, Jones said, is the reason he's been able to produce lately.

"I've been able to dictate what's coming," he said. "When I do that, I'm centering it. Baseball's fun when you do that."

Jones' resurgence comes at the perfect time, with center fielder Andruw Jones cooling from his unconscious run into the All-Star break.

The Braves' order becomes a different lineup with a player that has a high on-base percentage hitting in front of Andruw, who is capable of powering one into the seats on any given pitch, outfielder Ryan Langerhans said.

"It is (a different lineup)," said Langerhans, who also homered Sunday. "You've got a guy back in there that can put up MVP-type numbers, and it gives us really potent guys at 3 and 4."

Good at-bats and getting on base will only help Andruw to see better pitches, Chipper said, which could lead to another surge like the All-Star had early in the summer. Andruw homered 13 times in June with Chipper on the disabled list.

"He's cooled off a little bit now, but you feel like he's a ticking time bomb," Chipper said. "You never know when he's going to go off. When he does explode, it's going to be massive."

If they both get going at the same time, Chipper's bomb metaphor might go atomic.

"Man, I hope that happens," Langerhans said. "I'd love to see it."

The Braves' opponents might have a different opinion.

Reach Travis Haney at travis.haney@morris.com.