Chicago Cubs Fall To Atlanta Braves 10-3, Volstad Loses Again

ATLANTA — The Chicago Cubs hoped Chris Volstad would return from the minors a better pitcher, more mature and better equipped to avoid big innings.

Instead, Volstad gave up five runs in the fifth as Chipper Jones had five hits and drove in four runs to lead the Atlanta Braves past Chicago 10-3 on Tuesday night.

Volstad has now gone 20 straight starts without a win.

Volstad (0-7) was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on May 18 and promoted for the start. He gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 1-3 innings.

“Not much has changed, obviously. Another big inning,” said manager Dale Sveum, who said Volstad didn’t follow the plan set by catcher Steve Clevenger.

“He didn’t really pitch to the game plan and that was discouraging,” Sveum said. “He’s got to trust Clevenger back there. Cleve calls a pretty good game.”

Sveum said Volstad will have another chance.

“We don’t have any options so we’ll run him out there again,” Sveum said. “As of now we don’t have any other options.”

Volstad’s drought is the longest winless streak in the majors since Jo-Jo Reyes made 28 straight without a victory for the Braves and the Blue Jays from 2008-11, according to STATS LLC.

“It’s pretty hard to do,” Sveum said. “You’re going to run into a win every once in a while.”

Volstad was winless in his last 11 starts with Florida in 2011 and hasn’t won in nine starts over two stints with the Cubs this season.

“It’s definitely a learning process,” Volstad said. “I think it’s just a matter of trying to be too perfect. Too fine.

“I just need to relax. … It’s just bad thinking on my part. I don’t think it has anything to do with the streak.”

Jones was added to the NL All-Star roster before the game. The 40-year-old third baseman replaced injured Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.

He then played like an All-Star at the plate, on defense and with his first stolen base of the season.

Jones, who plans to retire after this season, went 5 for 5 for his third career five-hit performance and first since Aug. 11, 2002.

“Tonight was just one of those dream games,” Jones said. “I would be hard-pressed to find a game in which I played better.”

After his fifth hit, a single in the eighth inning, Jones was lifted for pinch runner Juan Francisco. Jones tipped his batting helmet as he received an ovation on his way to the dugout. He emerged from the dugout for another wave to the fans as the cheers continued.

“That was fun. That was a lot of fun,” Jones said. “It’s just another one to file in the memory bank from my last year. It has been pretty special to this point.”

Jones hit a three-run double in the sixth. He has a season-best 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .313.

“I don’t think that swing is ready to retire,” Sveum said.

Jones added a defensive highlight in the eighth inning when he fielded Darwin Barney’s grounder behind third base and, while in foul territory, threw him out at first.

“Impressive,” said Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens. “He stole the show today. He carried us.”

Jurrjens (2-2) gave up nine hits and three runs, all unearned, in five innings. Reliever Kris Medlen pitched three perfect innings.

The Cubs led 3-1 before Michael Bourn hit a bases-loaded triple in Atlanta’s five-run fifth. Martin Prado’s sacrifice fly and Jason Heyward’s 13th homer in the inning pushed the Braves’ lead to 6-3, chasing Chris Volstad out of the game.

Bourn walked in the first and scored when Jones’ single dropped in front of David DeJesus in center field. DeJesus dove and trapped the ball.

Cubs relievers Rafael Dolis and Jairo Asencio combined to walk six batters in the sixth, helping the Braves score four runs on only one hit – Jones’ bases-loaded double to right field. Prado forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk from Asencio.

The start of the game was delayed by rain for 52 minutes. Following the rain, the first-pitch temperature was 72 degrees, a drop of more than 20 degrees.

NOTES: Volstad’s last win came on July 10, 2011 with Florida against Houston. … The Cubs optioned RHP Casey Coleman to Triple-A Iowa to clear a roster spot for Volstad. Coleman gave up seven earned runs, his career high as a reliever, in last Wednesday’s 17-1 loss to the Reds. … Braves RHP Randall Delgado will face Cubs LHP Paul Maholm as the series continues on Wednesday night. Maholm threw seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over the Braves in Chicago on May 5.

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