Jones Ends Slump Just in Time, 3-2

Andruw Jones picked the right time to get out of a slump.

Jones, who had struck out three times and was stuck in a two-for-18 slide, hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning Friday night as the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the winless Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-2.

Arizona closer Gregg Olson lost a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning.

Jones walked with one out and scored on singles by Ryan Klesko and Walt Weiss. Pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart hit a chopper to Olson, who got the force at second, but second baseman Jay Bell’s throw to first was too late and Klesko scored the tying run.

“The only mistake I made was the walk to Jones,” Olson said. “Nobody hit the ball hard.”

Brian Jordan then doubled off John Frascatore (0-2) with one out in the 10th, Javy Lopez was intentionally walked and Jones singled to left. Jordan easily beat Luis Gonzalez’s throw, giving Atlanta nine wins in 10 games against the Diamondbacks.

“It was fitting,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “He was punched out three times and looked terrible and then he comes up with the big hit.”

Jones said his walk was the key to his game-winning hit.

“I told myself to be patient and I got the walk and scored,” he said. “I stayed patient and, in my fifth at-bat, I got the hit.”

John Rocker (1-0) struck out the side in the 10th for his second career win. The left-hander, likely to take over as the Braves’ closer, has struck out six consecutive batters, starting the streak in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Philadelphia.

“I was glad to come in and give our team a little boost,” Rocker said.

Gonzalez put Arizona ahead with a solo homer in the eighth, his third homer of the season, and Tony Batista hit an RBI single in the ninth. Batista went two for four after an 0-for-14 start.

Arizona starter Omar Daal gave up four hits in 6 1/3 shutout innings and struck out five but walked four.

Odalis Perez, a 20-year-old rookie left-hander, pitched six scoreless innings in his first major league start. Perez, who joined the Braves as a reliever last September and beat out another rookie left-hander--Bruce Chen--for the fifth starter’s role, gave up only two hits, struck out five and walked three.