Leyland Looks To Bury Past

Are the Atlanta Braves about to break Jim Leyland’s heart again?

For the third time since 1991, Leyland’s team has claimed an enviable position against the Braves in the National League Championship Series. Instead of the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s the Florida Marlins who are one victory away from the World Series heading into today’s Game 6 at Turner Field.

Will this be the charm for Leyland? Or will he once again be victimized by the curse of Atlanta?

“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it at all,” Leyland said. “I’ve always been able to turn the page. I turned the page on that long ago.

“When my career’s over, I’m sure I’ll be reminded about it. But I’m managing a totally new team. Some of the faces on the Braves have changed, too.”

Only five players on the Braves’ postseason roster - Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Mark Wohlers, Jeff Blauser and Rafael Belliard - were around in 1991 when Atlanta rallied from a 3-2 deficit against Leyland and the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning the series with two shutouts at Three Rivers Stadium.

A year later, the improbable happened again when the Pirates were three outs away from beating the Braves in Game 7 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Of course, everyone remembers what happened next - pinch-hitter Francisco Cabrera sent a two-out, two-run single to left, Sid Bream’s aching legs slid across home with the winning run and the Braves went on to the World Series.

“We lost that heartbreaker down here in ‘92, but that doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Leyland said.

Brown gets start for Marlins

The Marlins can’t pitch Livan Hernandez again today, so they’ll settle for their ace instead.

Kevin Brown will probably take the mound in Game 6 against the Braves.

Brown was unable to pitch Saturday or Sunday because of a viral infection.

“If you want anyone on the mound in a big game, it’s Kevin Brown,” Marlins teammate Jeff Conine said.

Brown beat the Braves and Greg Maddux in Game 1.

In Island of Pines, Cuba, where Hernandez grew up, his mother monitored the game’s progress thanks to frequent phone calls from friends in Miami.

“In Cuba,” Hernandez explained, “everybody is following the Marlins.”

Jones chipper about Glavine

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones likes the Braves’ chances in Game 6 with Tom Glavine doing the pitching.

“Glavine is certainly the guy we want on the mound right now,” said Jones.

“He’s probably the hottest of all the pitchers with the possible exception of (Denny) Neagle,” said Jones.

Neagle, also a left-hander, won Game 4, shutting down the Marlins on a four-hitter in Atlanta’s 4-0 win.

“They haven’t swung the bats real good against our lefties and hopefully Glavine will continue that trend against them,” said Jones.