Both Ben Sheets and Chipper Jones ended the 2012 regular season on a high note.
Sheets, in his 250th and final major-league start, let it all hang out on the mound in his lone inning of work. He topped out at 96 in blowing away two of the three hitters he faced, and combined with seven Atlanta relievers on a four-hit shutout for a 4-0 win over A.J. Burnett and the Pirates.
Right out of the gate, Michael Bourn had his running shoes on. After drawing a walk to start the game, Bourn stole both second and third base easily, ultimately scoring on Martin Prado's sacrifice fly.
Atlanta added to its lead in the fourth. Jason Heyward led off the inning with a single to center, stole second, and crossed home on Dan Uggla's single to center.
Chipper received a nice ovation when he was announced as a pinch-hitter in the sixth. In his final regular season at-bat, Chipper ripped a single to right. Jason Heyward followed with a single and Dan Uggla walked with one out to load the bases. J.C. Boscan stepped to the plate for his first at-bat of the game and he lined a single to center to score Chipper. Heyward scored Atlanta's fourth run on a groundout by Juan Francisco.
Once Ben Sheets worked his one inning, Johnny Wholestaff took over the rest of the way, allowing just four singles. Craig Kimbrel struck out three in the ninth to punctuate the shutout win. Luis Avilan was given the win, the first of his major-league career.