Maddux Makes It Look Easy

Atlanta’s Greg Maddux limited Pittsburgh to four hits over seven shutout innings and Jermaine Dye and Chipper Jones homered, leading the Braves to a 5-1 victory over the Pirates Thursday at Pittsburgh.

Maddux (13-10) was working on his second shutout in four starts, but was removed after throwing only 63 pitches in seven innings. He struck out four and walked none. Maddux shut out Philadelphia on Aug. 13 after going all season without a shutout.

“He didn’t have to throw many pitches,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s had a little bit of a hamstring problem or otherwise he could have gone nine innings easy. Easy. I didn’t want to push it.”

Florida 10, St. Louis 9--The Marlins hit four home runs off Todd Stottlemyre in the first three innings and held on at St. Louis to complete a three-game sweep of the slump-ridden Cardinals.

Gary Sheffield, Alex Aria, Greg Colbrunn and Devon White each homered for the Marlins, who withstood a three-run rally in the ninth inning by St. Louis to win their sixth in a row.

San Diego 3, New York 2--Joey Hamilton gave up two runs on six hits in eight-plus innings at New York, as the Padres handed Met Manager Bobby Valentine his third consecutive loss since replacing Dallas Green.

Hamilton (13-7), who struck out eight and walked one, lost his shutout bid in the ninth on Roberto Petagine’s two-run single. Trevor Hoffman got the final three outs for his 33rd save.

Cincinnati 18, Colorado 7--Joe Oliver drove in a career-high seven runs with a grand slam and a three-run double, and the Reds had a season-high 17 hits at Denver.

Dave Burba (8-13) gave up nine hits in eight innings and Eric Davis drove in four runs with three hits, one his 24th homer of the year.

Chicago 4, Houston 3--Jose Hernandez broke a seventh-inning tie with a two-run single at Houston, as the Cubs ended Astro starter Shane Reynolds’ five-game winning streak.

Reynolds (16-7) lost for the first time in nine starts. Chicago starter Jaime Navarro (13-9) pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits.