Jones Sparks Braves' Victory Over Padres

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Chipper Jones hit a grand slam to cap a five-run seventh inning and give Atlanta a club-record 21 consecutive games with a home run Saturday night as the Braves rallied for a 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Jones' 12th home run of the season and fourth grand slam of his career came against Dan Miceli, the Padres' third pitcher of the inning. The shot made Kevin Millwood (5-1) the winner and gave the Braves their fifth win in six games and 10th in 12.

The Braves trailed 3-0 when Gerald Williams doubled with on out in the seventh off Brian Boehringer. Pinch-hitter Michael Tucker then singled home Williams.

Ben VanRyn (0-1) relieved and gave up a pinch-hit single to Keith Lockhart and walked Walt Weiss to load the bases. Miceli took over and retired pinch-hitter Ryan Klesko on a liner to second before Jones homered over the left-center field fence.

The home run broke the Atlanta club record of 20 consecutive games in 1973. The streak is one shy of the franchise record of 22 by the 1956 Milwaukee Braves and two off the NL mark of 24 set by the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Sterling Hitchcook, in only his third start of the season, pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings for the Padres. Greg Vaughn and Greg Myers hit home runs on consecutive pitches in a three-run fourth inning for San Diego's runs.

The Padres scored all three runs in the fourth off Millwood. Wally Joyner drew a one-out walk, Vaughn hit his eighth homer and Myers followed with his first homer.

Millwood gave up four hits and struck out seven in seven innings.

Alan Embree pitched a scoreless eighth. Kerry Ligtenberg worked the ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities, giving up an RBI single to Steve Finley.

The Braves added a run in the eighth on doubles by Andruw Jones and Tucker.

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