BASEBALL PLAYOFFS DAILY REPORT : NATIONAL LEAGUE : Phil Niekro Tried to Prepare Braves for Wakefield

The grip was the same. The delivery was the same.

“But this was the first time I’ve ever gone out there and tried to let them hit it,” Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro said of his batting practice stint with the Atlanta Braves as they prepared for a rematch with Pittsburgh Pirates rookie knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in Game 6 of the National League playoffs.

“They’ve had enough trouble with Wakefield,” Niekro said. “I didn’t want to put any more pressure on them (by trying to throw a knuckler that they couldn’t hit).

“The more you see it, the more comfortable you can become with it.”

Wakefield beat the Braves, 4-2, in August and did it again, 3-2, in Game 3. Bruce Dal Canton, the 51-year-old pitching coach for Atlanta’s triple-A Richmond farm team, was brought in to throw his knuckleball during batting practice before Game 3 and returned Tuesday night to precede Niekro to the mound. Niekro, 53, was in Los Angeles on a business trip, but responded to the Braves’ request by flying out at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

He said that he would tell the Atlanta hitters to be patient, look for a particular zone and key on mistakes. He said every pitcher makes mistakes, though “from what I’ve seen on TV, (Wakefield) has a great knuckler and better control than I did. He throws strikes with it more than 70% of the time.”

Wakefield was waiting when Niekro finished throwing batting practice and introduced himself.”You can tell he’s full of confidence,” Niekro said, smiling. “He’s 26 and has his whole career in front of him. Can’t help but be a little envious.”

Wakefield had little trouble in Tuesday’s 13-4 victory over the Braves, giving up nine hits in nine innings.