Chipper Jones' Walk-Off Homer Gives Atlanta A 15-13 Win Over Philadelphia In 11 Innings

After 11 innings, 28 runs, and 36 hits, I can tell you one thing. The old man still has it.

Atlanta was down 6-0 and 12-8 during tonight's game, but rallied back both times to push it into extra's. From there, Chipper Jones took over, and his two-run walk-off home run in the 11th inning gave Atlanta a 15-13 win over the Phillies.

On paper, tonight looked like it had the potential to be a pitchers duel, but that obviously wasn't the case.

Tonight just wasn't Tommy Hanson's night. The Braves right-hander threw 95 pitches and didn't make it out of the fourth inning. In the third, back-to-back singles from Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco put runners on first and third with one out for Shane Victorino. Victorino added a single of his own to right field, scoring Rollins and advancing Polanco to third.

Victorino then stole second, and a walk to Hunter Pence loaded the bases with still only one out. After getting Ty Wigginton to pop out, Laynce Nix doubled to right field, clearing the bases to make it 4-0 Philadelphia. Nix's double was extra frustrating because Jason Heyward makes that catch easily, but Hinske got a late jump and looked extremely uncoordinated out there in right.

Philly added two more runs in the fifth inning against Cristhian Martinez. Wigginton singled to lead-off the inning, then scored on a double from Carlos Ruiz to up the lead to 5-0. A double from Freddy Galvis scored Ruiz, increasing the lead to 6-0.

However, Atlanta stormed right back against Phillies starter Roy Halladay. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases, and after a Juan Francisco pop out, back-to-back scored Chipper and Eric Hinske to make it 6-2 Philly. After Freddie Freeman popped out, Brian McCann crushed a pitch right down the middle into the right field stands to tie things up at 6-6 with a grand slam.

The Braves tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth. Eric Hinske singled with one out, and advanced to third on a blooper from Tyler Pastornicky that he was able to get to second on. Pinch-hitter Jason Heyward strode to the plate and connected for a two-run single into right field to make it 8-6.

The lead was short lived, as Carlos Ruiz launched an Eric O'Flaherty pitch into the left-field seats for a three-run homer, giving the Phillies back the lead at 9-8 in the top of the seventh. Things got even crazier after that.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases against Kris Medlen in the eighth for you know who, Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz doubled to right, clearing the bases and making it a 12-8 game in favor of the Phillies.

Of course, the Braves came right back with five of their own in the bottom of the eighth against Jose Contreras and Michael Schwimmer. Dan Uggla singled to start the frame, and reached second on an error by Rollins on a ball hit by Chipper. Two batters later, Tyler Pastornicky singled to center, scoring Uggla and advancing Chipper to second. That cut it to a 12-9 game.

Heyward walked to load the bases, which ended the night for Contreras. Schwimmer walked the first batter he faced, Michael Bourn, to bring in Chipper and make it a 12-10 game. Prado followed a singled to center, scoring Pastornicky and Heyward to temporarily tie things up at 12. A sacrifice fly from Freeman brought in Bourn from third, finally giving the Braves the lead at 13-12.

Craig Kimbrel came in for the save, but it wasn't to be. He inexcusably walked lead-off batter Juan Pierre, who then promptly stole second. Pierre advanced to third on a Polanco groundout. That brought up Victorino with two outs. He grounded one up the middle where it was fielded on a nice play by Jack Wilson, but Victorino beat the throw to first, allowing Pierre to score the tying run.

In the bottom of the ninth, Atlanta had great chance to walk things off but fell just short. Two singles and a walk from Jason Heyward loaded the bases with two outs for Bourn, but he popped out to end the frame and send things to extra's.

Jonny Venters and Brian Sanches traded scoreless frames in the tenth, and Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless 11th for Atlanta. Sanchez, however, wouldn't be able to duplicate. Dan Uggla singled to start it off, and that brought up Chipper. After just barely missing a home run down the right field line, he homered a few pitches later deep into the right-center field seats.

Chipper Jones, ladies and gentlemen. He's awesome.