If You Walk Jones, Then Here Comes Mr. Jordan

The Houston Astros succeeded in making Chipper Jones a non-factor in the division series, pitching around the leading candidate for the National League’s most-valuable-player award.

The New York Mets did the same to the switch-hitting third baseman during the first two games of the championship series.

And Brian Jordan has thrived in the process.

Jordan--the Braves’ right fielder and cleanup hitter--batted .471 with a home run and seven runs batted in during the division series. In Game 2 of the championship series Wednesday, Jordan tied the score with a two-run homer--after Jones walked--in the sixth inning.

“They can keep on walking me, that’s fine,” said Jones, who has walked 10 times in the postseason. “I know that Brian is behind me, and everything is working out OK so far.”

Jordan delights in making the opposition pay, and he keeps getting opportunities.

“I love it,” he said. “If the Mets are going to continue to walk Chipper to get to me, then I’m going to to take advantage.”

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Met leadoff batter Rickey Henderson is expected to play today after leaving Wednesday’s game because of flulike symptoms. Henderson felt better Thursday after a night’s rest and taking fluids, Met officials said. Henderson appeared sluggish while grounding out twice in the first two innings of the Braves’ 4-3 victory. He was overcome by nausea and dizziness during the Braves’ half of the second inning and was replaced in left field by rookie Melvin Mora.

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John Olerud, Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura--the Mets’ Nos. 3-5 batters--are one for 21 with one run batted in during the series.

“We have a lot of proven guys on this ballclub who have struggled in the first couple of games, myself included,” said Piazza, hitless in seven at-bats with an RBI. “But the thing about this team is that we’ve never given up.

“When one guy has struggled, someone else has been there to pick them up. We just have to stay patient and do the things we know we’re capable of doing. You just have to keep it simple because putting more pressure on yourself isn’t going to help.”

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Met starter Masato Yoshii’s left ankle was still sore and slightly swollen after he sprained it while fielding a bunt during Tuesday’s opener. Yoshii is expected to make his next scheduled start in Game 5, if there is a Game 5.