Reds Walk Over, Master Maddux
National League
Greg Maddux seemed more upset with the walks than the loss.
Maddux’s career-high 10-game winning streak ended as Benito Santiago hit a three-run homer to lead Cincinnati to a 9-3 win over Atlanta at Fulton County Stadium on Wednesday night.
Maddux (12-2) had not lost since May 17, a span of 14 starts, and his streak was a season-high in the N.L. this season.
Maddux allowed five runs on eight hits in 6-2/3 innings and his ERA rose from a league-leading 1.74 to 1.96. He walked a season-high five and struck out eight to drop to 8-10 lifetime against the Reds. He also threw his first wild pitch since April 14, 1994.
“I’ve been catching Greg Maddux for two years and I can count on one finger the number of times he’s had control trouble,” Braves catcher Charlie O’Brien said.
“Walks happen sometimes,” Maddux said. “The walks definitely hurt, but I’m not really dissatisfied with my game,” Maddux said.
Expos 6, Astros 5
Houston
Mike Lansing’s two-run double highlighted a three-run fifth inning and Pedro Martinez scattered 11 hits over eight-plus innings in Montreal’s win.
Mets 4, Phillies 0
Philadelphia
Rookie Jason Isringhausen pitched eight shutout innings as New York beat Philadelphia. The victory was the fourth in a row for New York, while the Phillies lost their season-high seventh straight and dropped to .500 (48-48) for the first time since May 3, when they were 3-3.
Marlins 2, Rockies 1
Miami
Kurt Abbott had three hits, including an inside-the-park home run, and drove in both runs as Florida beat Colorado. The Marlins have won 10 of 12 and are 19-13 career against their expansion brethren.
Giants 4, Pirates 3
San Francisco
Glenallen Hill’s two-run homer in the seventh inning kept William VanLandingham’s record perfect at Candlestick Park and gave San Francisco the victory.
Dodgers 4, Cardinals 2
Los Angeles
Eric Karros homered for the third straight game and Chad Fonville singled in two runs as Los Angeles moved within a game of the N.L. West lead.
San Diego vs. Chicago
Chicago
The game was rained out and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today, beginning at 10:05 a.m.
Rijo to take risk
Although Jose Rijo insists he needs surgery on his pitching elbow, the Cincinnati Reds ace is willing to take his doctor’s advice and wait.
Dr. James Andrews advised Rijo to rest the elbow for a few more weeks and see how it responds. The only other option is surgery that could be career-threatening.
“I was physically and mentally prepared for surgery,” Rijo said. “I know I need it and he knows I need it. He just wants to make sure there are no other choices before we do it.
Rijo, who is 5-4 with a 4.17 ERA in 14 games, is on the disabled list for the second time this season because of his right elbow. He has a calcium formation in the ligament that can only be removed surgically.
Clearing the bases
Colorado’s Eric Young’s hit in the fourth inning extended his career-best hitting streak to 18, while Dante Bichette saw his 19-game streak come to an end … Houston’s four-game losing streak is its longest since it lost six in a row from June 6-11… . Wednesday’s win gave the Mets their first series win in Philadelphia since July, 1991.