Maddux Quiets Skeptics Ace Throws Eight Strong Innings And Allows One Late Run In Braves’ 5-2 Nlcs Win

Greg Maddux had never pitched a great game in the playoffs. He’s also never been to the World Series.

One down, one to go.

Maddux finally pitched in the postseason the way he does in the regular season, going eight strong innings as Atlanta beat Cincinnati 5-2 Friday night to move within a victory of a third trip to the World Series this decade.

The Braves lead the Reds 3-0 in the best-of-seven series, and no team has come back from such a deficit in the postseason.

“Tonight kind of seemed like a blowout compared to the last couple of games, but it really wasn’t,” Maddux said.

Still, it was a game that seemed wrapped up after Charlie O’Brien hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Chipper Jones added a two-run shot in the seventh for a 5-0 lead.

“I thought he was typical Greg Maddux - a lot of ground balls, a couple strikeouts,” Braves manager Bobby Cox said. “I thought he might get a shutout.”

Maddux, who allowed seven hits and a run in eight innings, got the biggest out of the night in the third when he struck out Reggie Sanders on a high fastball with the bases loaded. Sanders struck out twice more to give him eight strikeouts in the series and 17 in six playoff games.

“I think that can be classified as a turning point,” Reds manager Davey Johnson said.

Maddux, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, who entered the game with a 6.62 ERA and 2-2 record in six career postseason appearances, struck out four, walked one and hit a batter. He retired the side in order just twice.

“I know there’s been a lot written about my playoff numbers not being good - and it’s because they weren’t good. But what’s good now is we’re up 3-0, and that’s a lot better than trying to prove someone wrong,” Maddux said.

“I really don’t think the series is over yet, although I love our chances - don’t get me wrong. We’re not going to let up, but if we win tomorrow or Game 5 or 6 or 7, yeah, I’ll be fired up,” he said.

Cincinnati, which has scored only five runs in the series, once again failed to hit in clutch situations. Tonight, the Reds will try to avoid becoming the first team since 1982 to be swept in an N.L. Championship Series. Steve Avery pitches for the Braves against Pete Schourek.

“What was done so far doesn’t mean much unless we win one more,” Cox said.

Cincinnati starter David Wells matched Maddux until the sixth when Fred McGriff led off with a double, his fourth of the series, and David Justice walked with one out. O’Brien, who had a career-high nine homers in the regular season, fouled off two pitches with a 2-2 count before yanking a belt-high fastball over the wall in left. The fans responded with their first inspired tomahawk chop of the night.

Jones added his two-run homer in the seventh off Xavier Hernandez.

The Reds finally got a run in the eighth with three straight one-out singles. Mark Wohlers finished up, allowing a sacrifice fly to Thomas Howard.

The Reds finished 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, making them 3 for 27 in the series. No one is struggling more than Sanders, who is 2 for 13 in the cleanup spot with eight strikeouts and a pair of infield singles.

Wells had the first hit of the night off Maddux, an opposite-field drive down the left-field line with one out in the third. Howard walked on four pitches and Ron Gant was hit on the wrist by a 1-2 pitch, loading the bases for Sanders. With the count 2-2, he shortened his swing and fouled off four straight pitches before whiffing on a high fastball.

There was another threat the next inning when Bret Boone had a two-out single and went to third when Marquis Grissom let the ball get past him in center field, but Jeff Branson ended the inning by grounding the next pitch right back to Maddux.

Pinch-hitter Lenny Harris had a two-out single in the seventh to put runners on the corners, but Maddux got Howard to ground into a force at second.

Atlanta had runners in scoring position in the first three innings, but failed to score. Justice grounded out to first to end the first inning with runners on first and third, Grissom popped out to shortstop with runners on the corners in the second and Mike Devereaux stranded runners on first and second in the third by popping out to left.

Notes

Maddux has allowed only one run all season in the second, third and fourth innings. … He threw 114 pitches, 76 for strikes. … Barry Larkin was caught stealing on a pitchout in the fifth inning. … Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser won’t be available until Sunday due to a deep thigh bruise.