Maddux Shows Form of Old in Win

Greg Maddux has become a realist. Losing a few games will do that to a man.

“I’m never going to pitch again like I did the last two seasons,” said Maddux (7-5) after he led the Braves to their fifth win in a row, a 6-0 decision over San Francisco Saturday at Atlanta.

“Last year and 1994 were a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was a great ride, but it’s over.”

Maybe.

Maddux pitched two-hit ball for eight innings and has given up only one run and six hits in his last 16 innings.

Even he had to admit his last two starts were “pretty close” to last year’s 19-2 form.

“I kept the ball down most of the time. It was 100 degrees on the field, but I don’t worry about the heat--I just pitch. I had a little luck tonight,” said Maddux, who lowered his ERA to 2.99.

Maddux, who struck out four and walked one, was not upset at coming out after eight innings and missing out on what would have been his 21st shutout.

“It wasn’t difficult at all to come out,” he said. “I was groggy. They changed pitchers twice in the eighth inning. I would have been stiff after sitting nearly a half-inning.”

Greg McMichael pitched the ninth, allowing two hits.

Chipper Jones homered in the first inning and had three RBIs, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games.

St. Louis 9, Montreal 4--Willie McGee drove in four runs and Mike Morgan (2-1) pitched eight strong innings before tiring for the Cardinals in a victory at Montreal.

Ray Lankford and John Mabry hit solo home runs, and Danny Sheaffer added a two-run double for St. Louis, which won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Ugueth Urbina (4-1), who lost for the first time in seven starts this season, gave up eight runs--seven earned--on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Philadelphia 5, Colorado 4--Mike Benjamin drew a bases-loaded walk from reliever Ryan Hawblitzel with two outs in the seventh inning, giving the Phillies the winning run at Philadelphia.

With the score tied, 4-4, Pete Incaviglia singled with one out in the Philadelphia seventh and took third on Jim Eisenreich’s two-out single.

After Benito Santiago walked to load the bases, Benjamin drew his go-ahead walk on a 3-and-1 pitch.

New York 5, Cincinnati 2--Mark Clark pitched eight strong innings and Alex Ochoa drove in two runs in his season debut for the Mets, who won in New York.

Butch Huskey drove in three runs, helping Clark (7-6) win his third consecutive decision. Clark gave up four hits, and John Franco pitched the ninth inning for his 16th save.

Pete Schourek (4-5), making his first start since being put on the disabled list May 31 because of an injured left elbow, lost his fourth consecutive decision.

He gave up two runs and four hits in five innings.

Ochoa, promoted from triple-A Norfolk Friday night, had an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Bernard Gilkey added three hits for the Mets.

Pittsburgh 4, Florida 1--Pinch-hitter Dave Clark broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning with a two-out RBI single, and Jeff King followed with a three-run homer in the Pirates’ victory at Miami.

With one out in the 10th, Jason Kendall walked and pinch-hitter Mark Johnson singled off Yorkis Perez (2-2). Terry Mathews replaced Perez and retired Carlos Garcia, but Clark hit a one-hopper that deflected off the glove of first baseman Greg Colbrunn. King followed with his 17th homer.

Dan Plesac (3-1) pitched two perfect innings, and Francisco Cordova gave up a two-out, RBI single by Terry Pendleton.