Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

Chipper Jones had another birthday to remember, right down to teammate Brian McCann’s belly flop of a slide. Jones celebrated his 36th birthday by going 3-for-3, including a home run, to lead Atlanta past the NL East-leading Florida Marlins 7-4 on Thursday night. For his career on April 24, he’s hitting .500 (18-of-36) with four home runs, eight RBI and 10 runs. “I always feel like I need to do something cool on my birthday,” the third baseman said. “Hit a homer or have three hits. I would have taken either one, to be honest. Today, I got ‘em both. It was awesome.” Not that it’s anything new this season. Jones raised the best average in the majors to .442, with seven home runs and 20 RBI. “Every day has been his birthday,” manager Bobby Cox joked.

While Jones got everything from a Dale Earnhardt video box set to an autographed guitar from country stars Rascal Flatts, the best present of all might have been a surprise from McCann, the Braves’ slow-running catcher. In the eighth, he drove one off the wall in right, the ball bouncing away from Jeremy Hermida, and flopped into third with something resembling a headfirst slide for his first career triple. Jones nearly buckled over in the dugout, laughing at McCann’s inelegant work on the basepaths. “That was just pure poetry in motion,” Jones said, still chuckling about it in the clubhouse. “That’s pretty much how Pete Rose used to draw it up.” Keep laughing Chipper because you have earned it. The injury-prone third baseman is really tearing it up and remains a must-start Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

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