Notebook: Maddux wins 350th game
Greg Maddux became the ninth pitcher in big league history to win 350 games, reaching the plateau in his fifth try and leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night in San Diego.
The 42-year-old Maddux (3-3) improved to 350-217 in 23 big league seasons. It’s another milestone to go along with his four N.L. Cy Young Awards, one World Series championship and a record 17 Gold Glove Awards.
Maddux hadn’t won since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 on the road on April 13. He followed that with three losses and a no-decision.
The right-hander was sharp against the Rockies, including retiring the first seven batters. He allowed consecutive two-out singles to Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins in the fourth before getting Brad Hawpe to fly out to right.
Maddux fielded Willy Taveras’ dribbler to the right of the mound leading off the sixth and, in a rare defensive breakdown, threw wide of first baseman Gonzalez for his first error since May 9, 2007, at Atlanta.
Marlins make big offer
With a new ballpark finally on the horizon, the Florida Marlins are beginning to loosen their purse strings.
Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez has agreed to the framework of a $70 million, six-year contract to remain with the Marlins, a person familiar with the negotiations said.
His deal would be the most lucrative in franchise history, topping the $61 million, six-year contract Gary Sheffield signed in 1997.
Clearing the bases
The Milwaukee Brewers must decide soon if they plan to add veteran Jeff Weaver to their rotation. Weaver, who was 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA for the Mariners last season, will make his third Triple-A start for Nashville today in Las Vegas and if Milwaukee doesn’t call him up by June 1, Weaver can opt out of a contract that would pay him $1.25 million. … Toronto Blue Jays All-Star outfielder Vernon Wells was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left wrist and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. … After blowing his major league-leading fifth save on Friday night in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers, embattled St. Louis reliever Jason Isringhausen will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said.