Friday, June 6, 2008

A threat to hit 400? Chipper Jones is already there.

The Atlanta Braves slugger hit his 400th career home run last night and got four hits against the Florida Marlins, raising his major league-leading batting average to .418.

Jones crushed his homer about 10 rows deep into the right-field seats in the sixth. He is the third switch-hitter to reach 400 homers, following Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray.

· KEMP, TORREALBA SUSPENDED: Dodgers OF Matt Kemp was suspended four games and Colorado C Yorvit Torrealba was penalized three games yesterday after their tussle this week.

Both players also were fined undisclosed amounts. Both plan to appeal their suspensions.

Kemp and Torrealba tangled Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Kemp struck out on a pitch in the dirt for the final out of the eighth inning, and the ball rolled a few feet to the right of Torrealba.

· GRIFFEY STARTS BUT DOESN'T SLAM : Reds OF Ken Griffey Jr., one homer shy of 600, returned to the starting lineup in Philadelphia for the first time in four games. He went 1 for 4 with a double off the wall in left-center. Griffey also dropped a ball in right field that led to a pair of unearned runs.

· ROLLINS REPLACED : Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins was removed from the game after four innings. Reds SS Paul Janish dropped Rollins's shallow popup in the third, and Rollins possibly could have been on second base but didn't run hard out of the box.

· ZELL STILL WANTS TO SELL : Tribune Co. chief executive Sam Zell said the company is pushing ahead with the sale of the Cubs and Wrigley Field. Zell said preliminary bids will be due in July.

-- From News Services