Maddux Pitch Just A Bit Inside

Orel Hershiser wasn’t just pitching against Greg Maddux, he was talking to him.

A brushback pitch by Maddux to Eddie Murray following Albert Belle’s first-inning homer caused both benches and bullpens to clear in Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday night.

“Greg, I don’t think, was trying to throw at Eddie,” Hershiser said. “I walked out during the bench-clearing and stood next to Greg and said to him, ‘Did you try to hit him on purpose?’ He said back to me, ‘No, I was trying to jam him,’ and I said, ‘I know you’re better than that,’ meaning much better control, ‘because I’m going to have the ball, too. I can have (the same) control as you.’

“He just kind of looked at me and we had respectful glances. It wasn’t my job to come back and knock someone down.”

Maddux threw high and inside to Murray after Belle’s homer put the Indians ahead 2-0 lead. Murray took a couple of steps toward the mound and yelled at Maddux, and home plate umpire Frank Pulli jumped in front of Murray as he pointed to his head and complained.

Maddux took a few steps toward home plate as players from both teams came onto the field. No punches were thrown and there was no pushing or shoving.

“I was just trying to throw a good cutter in,” said Maddux, who was surprised by Murray’s reaction. “I was hoping he’d swing at it.”

Murray eventually walked and was picked off by catcher Charlie O’Brien, ending the inning. He did not look at Maddux as they crossed paths leaving the field.

DH helps Braves

The use of the designated hitter helped the N.L. team more than the A.L. team in the three games in Cleveland. It allowed the Braves to use Luis Polonia in left field, and move regular left fielder Ryan Klesko to DH. Polonia gave them better defense, speed at the top of the lineup and he provided a better-than-expected bat.

Polonia drove in a run and scored a run in Game 3, had two hits, a walk and drove in a run in Game 4, and homered Thursday night. As a bonus,

Klesko hit homers in all three games.

As for the Indians, Paul Sorrento and Herb Perry, playing at first while Murray went back to DH, were a combined 2 for 13.

Belle flap

The fallout continued from Belle’s expletive-filled tirade in the dugout Tuesday against Hannah Storm of NBC and other media members.

Indians manager Mike Hargrove said he would write a letter of apology to Storm, and acting commissioner Bud Selig said the matter would be addressed by baseball officials.

“I certainly do not condone what Albert did. I don’t understand it. Personally, I would not do that, but I do know that professional athletes today view the media as an adversary, and that’s very sad,” Hargrove said.

“I don’t know how the incident is being handled, but I’m hopeful that someone in authority will address it in a serious manner,” she said.

Grissom a hit

Braves center fielder Marquis Grissom had his 24th hit of the postseason, tying the record set by Boston’s Marty Barrett in 1986.

It continued a superb playoff run for Grissom. He has hit in all 13 of Atlanta’s postseason games, and is batting .381 in the Series.

But despite the glowing numbers, he has received just a fraction of the attention of his counterpart, Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton, who is hitting .238.

“As long as we go out and win, that’s the most important thing,” Grissom said. “I’m not an ‘I-me’ player.”

Baerga hobbling

Cleveland second baseman Carlos Baerga revealed that his sprained left ankle is worse than previously disclosed.

“I’ve got a bone spur in there and bent the ligaments pretty bad. It bothers me (when) I put all my weight on it,” he said.

Hargrove said Baerga was “75 to 80 percent, but that’s still better than 100 percent for most people.”