Braves Do Just Enough To Win Opener

It was a game fitting of the playoffs: tight, well-pitched and could have changed on one play.

Of course, what else would you expect from the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros? What else would you expect from Greg Maddux and Darryl Kile?

Maddux, criticized for pulling himself out of a late-season game, pitched a seven-hitter and Atlanta defeated Kile and the Astros 2-1 in Game 1 of the N.L. division series Tuesday afternoon.

Houston, playing in the postseason for the first time since 1986, has stayed close to the Braves all year. The 11 regular-season games were decided by one or two runs, with Atlanta winning seven.

Tuesday was more of the same. The Braves, making an unprecedented sixth straight postseason appearance, had only two hits against Kile and two relievers - none after the first pitch in the second inning - but both led to runs.

“They’ve been on our butts the whole season,” said John Smoltz, who’ll be the starter when the best-of-5 series shifts to the Astrodome on Friday. “It’s not going to be easy getting to the league championship series.”

But others in the Braves clubhouse were supremely confident of beating the Astros now that the first victory is out of the way.

“Maybe we have a psychological edge, winning so many close ones against Houston,” said Ryan Klesko, whose second-inning homer provided the winning margin. “They’ve got to be shaking their heads.”

“I think it’s going three,” added catcher Eddie Perez, more business-like than boasting.

Maddux was 10-0 with a 1.94 ERA in daytime starts during the season.

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Houston Atlanta

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