Big blast backs up 11 1/3 scoreless innings

MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Marlins waited all night for the clutch

RBI that never came. Chipper Jones delivered for the Atlanta Braves

instead.

Jones homered on the first pitch of the 13th inning, and seven

pitchers shut out Florida for the final 11 1/3 innings Wednesday

night to help the Braves win 2-1.

After scoring nine runs to win on opening day, the Marlins went

1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and the only hit was an

infield single. They set a team record by hitting into six double

plays.

Jones drove in both Atlanta runs and finished 4-for-6. He beat

out a routine grounder to first for an infield hit and stole a

base, but it was his power that won the game.

"We were struggling a little bit with the bat," Jones said.

"I just had the feeling that one swing was going to end it."

He hit a fat sinker from Nate Bump (0-1) over the center field

wall. The homer was estimated at 418 feet.

"I didn't put it where I needed to," Bump said. "It tailed

over the plate, right where he wants it."

Braves newcomer Dan Kolb, making his first appearance replacing

John Smoltz in the closer's role, pitched a scoreless 13th for his

first save.

"I never had that kind of adrenaline in my life," Kolb said.

Florida hit into a double play in each of the first four innings

and again in the 13th after Kolb walked the leadoff batter.

"Double plays killed us," manager Jack McKeon said. "We

didn't execute. We had so many chances to win. It was just one of

those nights."

The Braves are 1-1 despite scoring just two runs in 22 innings.

They lost 9-0 on opening day.

"To come back and play more of an Atlanta Braves-type game and

come out with a win is big," Jones said. "Wins down here at

whatever time of year are tough to come by."

Adam Bernero (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and got Juan

Pierre to ground out with the potential winning run at second to

end the 12th. Florida pinch-hitter Damion Easley led off the 10th

with a double, but Pierre -- one of baseball's best bunters -- popped

to the pitcher trying to sacrifice, and Easley was doubled up.

Atlanta's Mike Hampton gave up seven hits and three walks, but

only one run in six innings. Al Leiter, making his first start for

Florida since Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, limited the Braves

to one run in 5 2-3 innings.

The game drew 20,317 fans, a steep decline from the Marlins'

regular-season record 57,405 for opening day.

Florida had runners at first and third with one out in the first

before Carlos Delgado flied out to left fielder Brian Jordan, who

easily threw out Pierre trying to score. The Marlins loaded the

bases with none out in the second but scored only one run -- when

Alex Gonzalez grounded into a double play.

Braves rookie Pete Orr singled for his first major league hit

leading off the third. He advanced on a sacrifice and came home on

a two-out single by Jones to make the score 1-all.

"On Tuesday we didn't pitch or hit," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox

said. "Tonight we did both -- a lot of pitching and a little bit of

hitting."

Game notes
The Marlins will pay $8.5 million of Hampton's salary this

season, the final year they're responsible for part of his

contract. He was briefly with the Marlins in November 2002 when

they swung the deal that brought Pierre to Miami and sent Hampton

to the Braves. ... Hampton had an ERA of 8.41 in April last year.

... Furcal went 0-for-3 against Leiter, dropping his average

against the lefty to .174 (8-for-46). ... Florida's Todd Jones came

on in the eighth to face Chipper Jones, followed by Andruw Jones.

... Brian Moehler, making his Marlins debut, threw two scoreless

innings working in the second relief for only the second time. He

has made 143 starts.