Chipper leaves game with oblique strain

By the Associated Press (1373)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009
© Copyright 2013 Newton Citizen

TORONTO - United States third baseman Chipper Jones left Sunday night's game against Venezuela after five innings with a mild oblique strain and will be evaluated again Monday.

Jones was injured swinging at a pitch in the fifth inning of a 15-6 victory that sent the U.S. into the tournament's second round.

'I got a good pitch to hit and tried to come out of my shoes to hit it,' Jones said. 'I'm a switch-hitter, it's something that's happened to me dozens of times. Hopefully, it will just be a couple days.'

Jones planned to rest Monday bust said he might try to swing today if the pain has diminished.

U.S. manager Davey Johnson said the Atlanta slugger could miss 'a week or two.'

'I told David Wright 'This is probably the last time you're going to DH,' Johnson said. 'Any time somebody has a little strain in the spring you have to be real cautious.'

Ryan Braun pinch hit for Jones in the sixth inning. The Atlanta Braves slugger started at third base after serving as the designated hitter in Saturday's U.S. victory over Canada.

Jones is 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in the World Baseball Classic. He hit .364 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs for Atlanta in 2008.

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