Brave starter Greg Maddux threw only 72...

Brave starter Greg Maddux threw only 72 pitches in seven innings . . . threw only 14 balls . . . fell behind after the first pitch on only two of 24 batters.

Yet he aggravated a sore right hamstring covering first base, forcing him to leave the game early.

He discussed the decision with Manager Bobby Cox, and eventually relented, for reasons that make the Braves so difficult to beat.

“As a team player, I’m compelled to do what’s best for the team,” he said. “That macho competitive stuff, a lot of times that’s bad for the team.”

He said he expected the hamstring to be fine for his next start, which may not come until late next week in the National League championship series.

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Reliever Mark Wohlers personified for the Braves’ no-frills, beat-us-if-you-can playoff approach in the ninth inning.

Each of his 10 pitches was the same pitch, a fastball. It was one of the few times this year he has not used his split-finger fastball or slider.

He retired Hollandsworth on one fastball (line drive to center), Kirby on six fastballs (strikeout looking) and Mike Piazza on three fastballs (grounder to third).

“I watched the films and saw Piazza just miss last night on a slider, so I wasn’t going to try anything like that,” Wohlers said. “I figured if I was going to get beat, I was going to get beat with my best pitch.”

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The ninth inning also showed another Atlanta strength--scouting.

At the start of the inning, Marquis Grissom was standing in the middle of center field. When Hollandsworth approached the plate, he moved closer to home plate, and to his right.

Guess where Hollandsworth hit his line drive?

“That ball was really hard hit, but Grissom was standing right there,” Wohlers said. “If he’s not there, it’s a base hit.

“Give credit to our advance scouts. That is one of the little things that the fans don’t notice, but that completely changes a game.”