Rocker Puts on a Show

NEW YORK —  John Rocker came out on top Saturday in his battle against New York.

Protecting a two-run lead, Atlanta’s colorful closer relieved with two outs in the eighth inning, loaded the bases by hitting Derek Jeter with his first pitch, then went to a 3-0 count on Paul O’Neill.

With a sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium roaring, Rocker rebounded to throw three consecutive strikes, and the Braves went on to an exciting 10-6 victory.

Then, as if he had planned the drama, he came into the Braves’ clubhouse and told reporters he wouldn’t talk to them.

And then he left.

Chipper Jones homered and drove in four runs as Atlanta rallied against the Yankees’ struggling middle relievers and improved to 7-1 on its longest trip this season.

Jones was drained from the Rocker-O’Neill confrontation.

“There are about 25 guys in our clubhouse who were expecting something bad to happen right there,” Jones said. “Rocker’s one of those guys that kind of pitches by the seat of his pants.”

Rocker, in his first appearance at Yankee Stadium since he denigrated New Yorkers, immigrants, homosexuals and others in a Sports Illustrated article two years ago, entered to loud boos from the sellout crowd of 55,107.