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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hunt For A Good October Postseason Troubles Have Hurt Maddux

Gerry Fraley Dallas Morning News

Greg Maddux tries to forget Will Clark’s windblown grand slam in 1989. Maddux can also do without more talk of Mickey Morandini’s game-ruining smash off his knee in 1993.

Those letdowns are the keepsake moments from the postseason section of Maddux’s illustrious career. Greg Maddux in the regular season dominates. Greg Maddux in the postseason gets into trouble.

Greg Maddux tonight gets another chance to straighten this out.

With Atlanta leading 2-0 in the best-of-seven National League playoffs, Maddux will start for the Braves against Cincinnati at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Reds, who hit .236 and scored three runs in the consecutive extra-innings losses, must now face a pitcher expected to win his fourth straight Cy Young.

“That’s not a very pleasant thought,” Reds manager Davey Johnson said.

A Maddux victory would bury the Reds deeper. It would also be the most significant achievement of his checkered postseason career.

Maddux reached the postseason with the Chicago Cubs in 1989 and the Braves in 1993 and ‘95. For six career postseason starts, Maddux is 2-2 with a 6.62 ERA. In the regular season from 1989-95, Maddux is 124-67 with a 2.88 ERA.

His failures have been significant. Maddux lost the opener in ‘89, when Clark hit the grand slam. Maddux, limited after being hit on the knee by Morandini’s grounder, lost the sixth game in 1993, and Philadelphia went to the World Series.

“It’s not like I say, ‘It’s the postseason, I have to come up with something better and leave something out,”’ Maddux said. “I only know one way to pitch.”

He has pitched differently this year. In two starts against Colorado in the Division Series, Maddux was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and three homers allowed in 14 innings. In the regular season, Maddux was 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA and eight homers allowed in 209 innings.

Maddux said there are no problems. Manager Bobby Cox and catcher Charlie O’Brien see one significant difference: mediocre control with misses high in the strike zone. Because Maddux does not throw hard, he must be exact to win.

“He hasn’t gone out there with his best location,” O’Brien said. “He sets such high standards, and everybody expects him to do it all the time. He expects it.”

Maddux was 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA for four regular-season starts against the Reds. His worst game of the season came at home against Cincinnati on Aug. 9. The Reds scorched him for a season-high five runs in 6 innings.

“He’s spoiled all of us,” Cox said. “When he gives up three runs, it’s news.”

Johnson, desperate for help, began trying to play mind games with Maddux well before this start. The Reds will run, Johnson said. Maddux does not like that, Johnson said. Maddux can be vulnerable if he rushes his delivery in response to the running game, Johnson said.

“We’ve had success against him,” Johnson said. “The best way for us is to attack him when we get on. I don’t know if there’s any possible way of hitting Maddux other than you hopefully force him out of his rhythm.”

Maddux shrugged and said, “So what?” when told of Johnson’s statements.

“I just pitch. That’s all I can do.”

He has done it well, until October arrives.