Maddux Seems Sharp Again

Greg Maddux and two relievers combined on a three-hitter, Maddux’s third consecutive victory, as the Atlanta Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-0, Thursday night at Atlanta.

Maddux (8-5) struck out five and walked none, leaving for a pinch-hitter in the seventh after being hit on the right leg by a line drive by Brian Jordan in the top of the inning. He recovered to get Jordan out on the play, then retired the next batter to end the inning. The Braves said Maddux had a bruised inside right thigh.

Greg McMichael worked the eighth inning and Mark Wohlers pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

In his last three starts, Maddux has given up one run on nine hits with one walk and 17 strikeouts in 23 innings.

San Diego 11, San Francisco 1--Fernando Valenzuela pitched 7 2/3 strong innings and five San Diego players hit home runs at San Francisco as the Giants lost their seventh consecutive.

Valenzuela (4-5) broke a five-game winless streak and is 2-0 with a 1.97 earned-run average in two starts against the Giants.

Giant right-hander Mark Gardner (7-3) retired the first nine batters then gave up five runs over the next two innings.

Singles by Rickey Henderson and Steve Finley and a three-run home run by Ken Caminiti, his 10th, put the Padres up 3-0.