ATLANTA -- Adam LaRoche drilled a ball completely out of Turner Field, and Andruw Jones kept one from going over the center-field wall. As for Chuck James, he put a scare into Barry Bonds and then showed the Giants why he's quickly become one of the most important factors in the Braves' postseason chase.
With LaRoche providing his third four-hit performance of the season Wednesday night, James received all of the production he needed to help the Braves claim a 5-3 win over the Giants.
"I've got to give it to Chucky tonight," said LaRoche, who contributed three doubles and a decisive two-run sixth-inning triple. "He pitched a pretty good game. He was pretty impressive."
While notching a fourth consecutive home win for the first time since May 18, most of the Braves were most impressed with Jones' ability to leap over the center-field wall and rob Ray Durham of what would have been a two-run eighth-inning homer.
"What a great catch," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's some kind of athlete to do that."
Before notching his 14th consecutive save opportunity, Bob Wickman proved mortal. The ninth-inning leadoff homer he surrendered to Eliezer Alfonzo ended his 17-inning scoreless streak that dated back to June 30, when he was still with the Indians.
Thus if Jones hadn't prevented Durham from touching Chad Paronto for the two-run homer, the Braves may not have been able to enjoy the extension of their mini-winning streak.
"To see him at his old age go and do something like that, it's pretty good," joked LaRoche of the 29-year-old Jones, who will likely win his ninth consecutive Gold Glove in November.
After continuing his recent offensive surge that has allowed him to hit .556 (15-for-27) on this homestand, LaRoche enjoyed talking more about what may prove to be the longest foul ball he'll ever hit. With one out in the eighth inning, he opened up and drilled Armando Benitez's inside fastball high over the upper-deck seats that are located directly above first base.
"I'm so much more excited about hitting the ball out of the stadium than I am getting four hits," LaRoche said. "I didn't think it was going to go. I crushed it, but I think if I didn't swing, it was going to hit me."
LaRoche's ability to show so much enjoyment about a foul ball only further proves the recent mood change experienced by the Braves, who will send the ever-dependable John Smoltz to the mound Wednesday night in search of a series sweep of the Giants, who came to Atlanta having won 11 of their previous 14 games. Smoltz is 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his past six home starts.
"We're just playing good baseball right now," catcher Brian McCann said. "Hopefully we can keep it going. The mood around here is a lot better than it was, and it makes a big difference."
Although LaRoche and Jones provided most of the highlights, Cox was just as excited about the seven-inning effort provided by James, who showed good control with his changeup and limited the Giants to two runs and six hits in seven innings.
"He was really good tonight," Cox said of James, who is 3-0 with a 2.32 ERA in his past five starts. "He changed speeds well and he attacks the hitters really good."
Showing some nerves, James hit Bonds with a first-inning pitch that was heading toward the veteran outfielder's head. But from there, the fearless 24-year-old southpaw had little trouble. The only damage he incurred came courtesy of Shea Hillenbrand's sacrifice flies in the first and third innings.
But with a runner on second base and Bonds on deck in the seventh inning, James ended his night by getting Hillenbrand to look at a fastball on the outside corner. He'd tantalized the Giants first baseman with a healthy dose of changeups earlier in the evening and knew he'd be looking for one.
"He's locating his changeup better than I've ever seen him," McCann said of James. "He's learning that when you get two strikes, bury it. That's what he's doing, and he's getting more swings and misses with his changeup."
LaRoche, who entered this homestand hitting just .238 at Turner Field, chased Giants starter Brad Hennessey with his two-run sixth-inning triple. His only previous triple came during his 2004 rookie season. The 26-year-old first baseman is hitting .368 since the All-Star break.
"I think he's the sleeper," said Jones, who scored in the fourth inning on one of LaRoche's three doubles.
When this week began, it appeared time to put the Braves' postseason hopes to rest. But like LaRoche, they've quickly turned things around and enjoyed a recent sense of normalcy.
"I've seen it this good before, but I haven't been able to take advantage of it like now," LaRoche said. "It's definitely one of the better grooves I've experienced."
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