Maddux Candid About Camera in Win

L.A. Times Archives

Aug. 17, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Greg Maddux, not wanting to give away any pitching secrets, would not allow Fox Television to attach a camera to the mask of his catcher when the Atlanta Braves played at St. Louis on Saturday. Or at least whatever secrets he has these days.

Coming off no decisions in his three previous starts, Maddux gave up three runs in the first inning before settling down to gain his first win since July 27, a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals on a day when he was lifted for a pinch-hitter after six innings on a 93-degree afternoon.

According to a Fox spokesman, the Atlanta ace said he was afraid the unusual camera angle would help opponents learn about his pitching mechanics. Fox broadcaster Joe Buck said Maddux was the first pitcher to refuse to allow the camera to be used. Cardinal starter Matt Morris did not object to the camera placement, and the small device was attached to the mask of catcher Mike Difelice.

Maddux (16-3) struck out two, didn’t walk anyone and gave up seven hits. Mike Bielecki, Mike Cather and Mark Wohlers each pitched one hitless inning for the Braves, with Wohlers getting his 29th save.

Montreal 8, San Francisco 5--Dustin Hermanson struck out eight in seven innings at San Francisco to help the Expos end their four-game losing streak.

David Segui put Montreal ahead to stay with a sixth-inning home run. Mike Lansing had three hits and three RBIs and Mark Grudzielanek added two hits and two runs.

Barry Bonds hit a two-run homer for the Giants in the eighth, his second in as many days and his 30th of the season. He has now reached that plateau seven times, including each of the last six years. But he also lined out with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, one out after Darryl Hamilton’s RBI double.

Hermanson (8-5) yielded two runs and three hits for his fourth consecutive victory. Ugueth Urbina gave up Hamilton’s double, but got three outs for his 19th save in 23 chances.

Pat Rapp (5-8) went 6 2/3 innings, giving up five runs and five hits. He was done in by control problems, walking four, throwing two wild pitches and hitting a batter.

Then he was done, period: Rapp was sent down to triple-A Phoenix after the game and outfielder Jacob Cruz was recalled.

Philadelphia 5, Houston 3--Gregg Jefferies hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off closer Billy Wagner at Houston, lifting the Phillies to their sixth consecutive victory.

The Phillies last won six in a row in June 1995. They have won 14 of 17 overall.

Houston starter Darryl Kile, trying to win his 10th consecutive decision and become the National League’s first 17-game winner, took a 3-2 lead into the eighth. But Scott Rolen led off with a single, and Wagner relieved with two out and gave up a tying single to pinch-hitter Kevin Jordan.

Wagner (7-5) walked Mickey Morandini with one out in the ninth and Jefferies hit his 11th homer of the season over the left-field fence.

Jerry Spradlin (2-6) pitched one inning for the win. Ricky Bottalico pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Pittsburgh 10, Florida 5--Rookie Jose Guillen homered and had a season-high five RBIs to lead the Pirates’ 12-hit attack at Miami.

Guillen hit a three-run homer in the seventh, and Kevin Polcovich followed with his fourth homer for a 10-3 lead. Guillen also had a run-scoring single and an RBI groundout.

Joe Randa went three for three with two walks, two runs and an RBI.

Francisco Cordova (9-6), ejected in the second inning of his start last week against Florida, bounced back to win his third consecutive decision, a career best.

Cordova gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings. In his previous outing, on Aug. 7, the right-hander was ejected when he hit Moises Alou one pitch after Darren Daulton homered.

San Diego 4, Chicago 3--Mark Sweeney tied the score with a two-run pinch-homer in the eighth and Steve Finley singled in the winning run in the 10th as the Padres won at San Diego.

Quilvio Veras reached on a one-out double off Terry Adams (1-7) in the 10th, took third on a wild pitch by Ramon Tatis and scored on Finley’s hit between Doug Glanville in left and Lance Johnson in center.

Trevor Hoffman (6-4) pitched two scoreless innings as San Diego won its third in a row and sent the Cubs to their third consecutive loss.

The Padres loaded the bases with none out in the ninth on singles by Tony Gwynn, Ken Caminiti and Wally Joyner off Adams. But Greg Vaughn struck out, Chris Gomez hit a shallow fly and John Flaherty grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Gwynn went two for four, increasing his league-leading average to .382.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Bernard Gilkey

Team: New York

Performance: 4 for 4, home run, 2 RBIs

Team’s Result: Loss

Player: Mike Lansing

Team: Montreal

Performance: 3 hits, 3 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win