[Nicole]

Braves 8, Phillies 7: Chipper Jones belted a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to cap a five-run inning as Atlanta rallied for a thrilling victory at Turner Field.


The Braves trailed 7-3 entering the ninth. The rally started with Martin Prado’s double to left off closer Jonathan Paplebon (3-6), scoring Reed Johnson and Paul Janish to bring Atlanta within two runs. With former Phillie Michael Bourn and Prado on base, Jones hit his 14th homer of the season.


Peter Moylan (1-0) got the final out of the ninth inning to get the victory as Atlanta maintained the top spot in the NL wild-card race.


Erik Kratz hit a three-run double in a five-run first inning for Philadelphia.


Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels added two-run doubles, and the latter pitched six innings for the Phillies..


Atlanta starter Paul Maholm lasted just two innings, allowing seven runs on six hits with three walks. Hamels benefited from the big blows by Howard and Kratz in the first inning. The Philadelphia starter struck out six with two walks, allowing six hits and three runs.


Hamels added a ground-rule double to center in the third to push Philadelphia’s advantage to 7-1.


Johnson went 3-for-4 for Atlanta. He doubled home Jason Heyward in the second, and singled home Freddie Freeman and Heyward in the sixth. Five Atlanta relievers combined to allow three hits over seven scoreless innings. Heyward doubled twice and Bourn added two hits.


John Mayberry Jr. finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored.


GAME NOTEBOOK: Atlanta rookie SS Andrelton Simmons will begin a rehab assignment Monday at Double-A Mississippi. Simmons has been on the disabled list since early July with a broken right pinkie finger. … Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins had two hits. He is two hits shy of 2,000 for his career. … Atlanta hosts the Rockies for a four-game series starting Monday. Philadelphia travels to Cincinnati for a three-game set against the NL Central leaders.