Smoltz Loosens Up and Ends His Slump

It wasn’t that big a deal, said John Smoltz, but it’s hard to argue with the statistics: three losses in a row and 17 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.

When you had a 14-game winning streak in which you had been dominating hitters as you never had in your major league career, any kind of trouble seems magnified.

“A lot was blown out of proportion during the losing streak, but I really didn’t like those numbers either,” Smoltz said after pitching a two-hitter and contributing a run-scoring single to the Braves’ 3-0 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night in Atlanta.

Smoltz (15-4), the winningest pitcher in the majors, struck out 10 in his fourth complete game of the season. He also matched his high for victories in a season.

He gave up hits to Kurt Abbott leading off the game and to pinch-hitter Joe Orsulak in the eighth inning.

“I was only using half of the plate the last few times, but today Florida didn’t know where my pitches were going,” Smoltz said. “Today was the best I’ve been all year at pitching in and out, up and down. I used about a dozen changeups.”

Smoltz said he loosened his wrist during All-Star workouts in Philadelphia and that gave his fastball “extra hop.”

“I thought the one run would hold up today,” he said. “It’s got to be frustrating for Kevin Brown. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game. I think Florida has scored seven runs for him in eight losses. I went through those times with the Braves. I feel for him.”

Brown (7-8) gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings, losing his third consecutive start. His earned-run average rose from 1.89 to 2.00.

Colorado 11, San Diego 6--Ellis Burks and Jayhawk Owens hit two-run homers and Vinny Castilla had a solo shot for the Rockies, who pounded San Diego pitching for the third game in a row in Denver.

Colorado, which erupted for a club-record 11 runs in the seventh inning of a 13-12 victory Friday night, bunched seven runs in the fourth inning Saturday off Scott Sanders (1-3) for an 8-2 lead.

Milt Thompson hit a two-run double and Burks had a two-run homer to cap the big fourth. Castilla and Owens homered in the fifth off reliever Willie Blair for an 11-3 advantage.

Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh 0--Kevin Jarvis pitched a three-hitter for his second lifetime shutout and Eric Davis and Joe Oliver hit solo homers for the Reds at Cincinnati.

Mark Johnson beat out a disputed infield hit in the fifth inning and was the only runner to reach base against Jarvis (3-1) in the first six. Jeff King and Jason Kendall added clean singles off Jarvis, who struck out only two.

St. Louis 10, Chicago 5--Brian Jordan hit a grand slam and a two-run homer for the Cardinals in a victory at Chicago.

It was Jordan’s second six-RBI game of the season, and he has driven in 30 runs over the last 17 games, during which he has raised his average from .253 to .308. He is six for 11 in the first three games of the series with three homers and nine RBIs. And he’s eight for 11 with the bases loaded.

Todd Stottlemyre (9-6) gave up six hits over seven innings and pitched shutout ball through six in winning his third start in a row.

Philadelphia 6, Montreal 2--Pete Incaviglia homered twice and drove in three runs and Benito Santiago hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, who won at Montreal for their third victory in a row.

Incaviglia hit a two-run homer off Rheal Cormier to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Incaviglia’s 17th home run, off Omar Daal in the eighth, made it 6-1 and sent the Phillies to their sixth win in seven games.