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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) -- The spotlight was on Todd Helton's chase for .400,
but it was Andruw Jones who provided the big hits Monday night as
the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 7-4.
|  | | Todd Helton at one point was batting .400 on Monday night, but finished where he began -- .398. |
Helton went 2-for-5 and briefly hit the .400 mark after getting
two singles in his first three at-bats. He dropped to .398 by
making outs in his last two at-bats.
Jones went 4-for-4, including a two-run homer, his 27th of the
year and his first since Aug. 1. He also had a double and a
sacrifice fly and drove in three runs.
Helton extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He became the
first player in 20 years to reach .400 this late in the season.
"Todd Helton might be the best-looking hitter I've ever seen
since George Brett," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Every swing
is good. He is incredibly good."
Brett was the last player to hit .400 this late in the season,
last reaching that mark on Sept. 4, 1980. Ted Williams was the last
player to finish a season at .400, hitting .406 in 1941.
Rockies manager Buddy Bell said the top two-thirds of Atlanta's
lineup is as much a threat as Jones.
"Everybody in their lineup, especially the first six guys, are
capable of having games like that, and that's why they're so good.
"And when you have a pitching staff that keeps a game that
close, these guys can really hurt you, like the center fielder
(Jones) did tonight."
Kevin Millwood (8-8) held the Rockies to just two runs -- one
earned -- and seven hits in seven innings. John Rocker pitched the
ninth for his 17th save.
Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer, his 28th. His third home run
in two days erased Atlanta's 2-1 deficit in the sixth.
The Braves extended their lead in the seventh on three
consecutive walks and Andruw Jones' sacrifice fly. Javy Lopez's RBI
single in the eighth made in 5-2 and Andruw Jones hit a two-run
homer in the ninth.
The Rockies pulled to 5-4 in the eighth on an RBI double by
Neifi Perez and Jeffrey Hammonds' run-scoring single.
Juan Pierre had an RBI single in the fifth. He has hit safely in
all 14 major league games in which he made a plate appearance.
The Braves' first run came in the first when Andruw Jones
doubled into the left-field corner and scored on Andres Galarraga's
two-out single.
The Rockies took the lead in the fifth when Todd Hollandsworth
singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by pitcher Brian Bohanon. Ben
Petrick singled and scored on Pierre's single.
Bohanon (7-9) went six innings, giving up four runs, all earned.
Game notes
B.J. Surhoff's consecutive games streak ended at 444. The
Braves outfielder had the longest active string in the majors. ...
The Braves optioned 2B Steve Sisco to Triple-A Richmond and
recalled RHP Gabe Molina from Richmond. ... Chipper Jones has had
four hits twice in his last seven games. ... Rockies catcher Brent
Mayne missed his fourth straight start Monday night with a sprained
left wrist and could be placed on the disabled list. ... Helton has
gone 27-for-47 (.574) during his 13-game hitting streak. He has hit
in 19 of 20 games in August. ... Braves 2B Rafael Furcal is in a
2-for-26 slump. ... Rocker began the night with a career 94.50 ERA
at Coors Field. He was 0-2 in three games, allowing seven earned
runs in two-thirds of an inning.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Colorado Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 12
Texas 3
Boston 7
Anaheim 6
Detroit 3
Oakland 1
Baltimore 2
Kansas City 1
Tampa Bay 11
Chi. White Sox 4
Cincinnati 7
Philadelphia 4
Houston 5
Chicago Cubs 4
St. Louis 7
Pittsburgh 4
Atlanta 7
Colorado 4
Milwaukee 16
Arizona 8
San Diego 5
NY Mets 4
Montreal 4
Los Angeles 1
San Francisco 6
Florida 0
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