Smoltz reaches 3,000 K mark
John Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts in Atlanta on Tuesday, when the Braves’ right-hander struck out Washington’s Felipe Lopez in the third inning.
Smoltz, 40, received a standing ovation after Lopez swung and missed on a 2-2 pitch for the second out of the third inning.
Among the 15 pitchers ahead of him on the 3,000 strikeout list, Smoltz reached the mark faster than all but Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan, Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens.
Smoltz’s former teammate, San Diego pitcher Greg Maddux, is the only other active pitcher with more strikeouts (3,287).
Cox faces stogie ban
Puffing on his usual post-game cigar in Atlanta, Braves manager Bobby Cox flashed a startled look when asked what he thought of Shea Stadium’s total ban on smoking.
The Braves face the Mets at Shea this weekend in a three-game series.
“You mean the new one?” he asked, referring to Citi Field, where the New York Mets will begin playing in 2009.
The Mets are smoke-free in their final season at Shea Stadium.
“The clubhouse doesn’t count,” Cox quipped.
A-Rod scratched again
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez missed his first game of the season Tuesday while in Miami for the birth of his second daughter.
Rodriguez will rejoin the team Thursday. He will be re-evaluated then to see how well his injured quadriceps has responded to treatment. It was unknown when he would play again.
Around the majors
Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero will have his right shoulder examined today in Birmingham, Ala. Cordero came off the 15-day disabled list on Saturday but left Monday’s game after feeling a “click” in his shoulder. … The Tampa Bay Rays acquired Gabe Gross from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league pitcher Josh Butler. Gross was batting .209 with no homers and two RBI’s in 16 games this season. … Boston took the field Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels without reliever Manny Delcarmen and catcher Jason Varitek, both sidelined with the flu.