‘Cy’ Maddux Gets 13th Win
Ryan Klesko homered twice and Greg Maddux became the N.L.’s first 13-game winner, limiting Colorado to seven hits in seven innings as the Atlanta Braves routed the visiting Rockies 8-2 on Thursday night.
Klesko homered in the fourth to put the Braves ahead for good and added his 18th of the season, a two-run shot, in the seventh. It was the sixth two-homer game of his career.
Colorado, which has plummeted in the N.L. West standings over the past month by losing 19 of 25 games, jumped on Maddux in the first when Larry Walker homered with two outs. It was the only hit for Walker in four at-bats, dropping his average from .404 to .402.
Maddux (13-3), who was lifted for a pinch-hitter when the Braves pulled away with a four-run seventh, picked up his sixth straight victory and kept himself solidly in contention for his fifth Cy Young Award in six years. His ERA of 2.49 ranks third in the N.L.
Maddux stole his first base since Aug. 9, 1991, in the sixth inning. After singling with one out, Maddux shocked the Rockies by breaking for second and beating the throw from Jeff Reed for the fourth stolen base of his career.
Reds 9, Pirates 5
Pittsburgh
Francisco Cordova lasted only two-plus innings in his first start since his combination no-hitter, with Hal Morris getting three hits and five RBIs by the fourth inning, as Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh.
Mets 4, Cubs 3 (10)
New York
Butch Huskey singled home the winning run in the 10th inning for his first four-hit game as New York rallied to beat Chicago and stop a three-game losing streak.
New York rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the sixth on Bernard Gilkey’s ninth homer, Huskey’s double and Todd Pratt’s two-out RBI single.
John Franco (2-1) pitched a perfect 10th.
Giants 3, Astros 1
Houston
Mark Gardner (10-4) improved to 5-1 after Giants’ losses as he limited the Astros to five hits over eight innings, struck out five and walked one.
Rod Beck pitched a perfect ninth for his major-league-leading 30th save as Houston’s three-game winning streak ended.
Marlins 8, Dodgers 7
Miami
Charles Johnson went 3 for 3 with two walks and tied a team record by scoring four runs as Florida held off Los Angeles.
Tripp Cromer homered twice for the Dodgers, giving him three this season. He hit a leadoff shot against Robb Nen to start the ninth and Eric Karros hit a solo home run with one out.
Nen, who had allowed only one homer in 44-1/3 innings, hung on for his 25th save.
Padres 3, Cardinals 1
St. Louis
Joey Hamilton pitched eight-plus innings and Steve Finley hit a two-run homer as San Diego handed St. Louis its sixth straight home loss.
Tony Gwynn went 2 for 4 with an RBI double, raising his batting average one point, to .398.
Expos 5, Phillies 4
Philadelphia
Carlos Perez came within one out of a complete game and Mike Lansing hit one of three Montreal home runs.