NOTES : Alomar Spitting Incident Taking Its Toll on Umpire

BRAVES 4, CARDINALS 2

American League umpire John Hirschbeck, the American League umpire who was spit on by Roberto Alomar of the Baltimore Orioles, has been so disturbed by the incident that he left his Pennsylvania home for an impromptu vacation to Florida, according to his brother, National League umpire Mark Hirschbeck.

“I’ve been really worried and scared for him the last few days,” said Mark Hirschbeck, the first base umpire Wednesday in Game 1 of the National League championship series. “He was OK the first couple of days, but each day I could see he was getting worse. He’s really struggling emotionally.

“The last time I saw him get this way was when little John [his son] died three years ago.

“It’s been so tough on him. People just won’t leave him alone. People have been on his lawn with cameras. There have been camera crews at his house. Everything.

“He needs to get away. I just hope time will heal all wounds. But it’s tough because now he’ll always be known for this incident.”

Mark Hirschbeck said that although his older brother has since expressed forgiveness to Alomar for his actions, he does not know whether he’ll ever forgive American League President Gene Budig.

John Hirschbeck became enraged, according to his brother, when he learned of the five-game suspension. He was particularly upset because it came on the heels of Alomar’s comments that he did not regret his action, and said that Hirschbeck has not been the same umpire since his son’s death.

“He called Budig and said, ‘Did you know about this statement when you fined him,’ ” Mark Hirschbeck said. “He had a few words with him and then I believe he ripped the phone off the wall.”

Alomar later apologized for his actions. John Hirschbeck will continue umpiring in the American League next year, his brother said.

*

Brave starter Greg Maddux may not be this year’s Cy Young Award winner, but he won a Gold Glove for his fielding prowess. The other winners: outfielders Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, Marquis Grissom of the Braves and Steve Finley of the San Diego Padres; catcher Charles Johnson of the Florida Marlins, first baseman Mark Grace of the Chicago Cubs, second baseman Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros, shortstop Royce Larkin of the Cincinnati Reds and third baseman Ken Caminiti of the Padres.

*

The last time the Braves and Cardinals met in the playoffs was in 1982. The Cardinals have two players from that team: Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee.

INNING BY INNING

FIRST INNING

Braves 0, Cardinals 0

Cardinals--Smith grounded to first. Lankford struck out. Gant flied to center. No runs, no hits.

Braves--Grissom grounded to the pitcher. Lemke grounded to second. C.Jones singled to left. McGriff struck out. No runs, one hit, one left.

SECOND INNING

Cardinals 1, Braves 0

Cardinals--Jordan tripled to center. On Smoltz’s wild pitch, Jordan scored. Gaetti struck out. Mabry struck out. Pagnozzi struck out. One run, one hit.

Braves--Klesko struck out. Lopez flied to right. Dye lined to short. No runs, no hits.

THIRD INNING

Cardinals 1, Braves 0

Cardinals--Alicea popped to first. Benes doubled to left. Smith flied to left, Benes taking third. Lankford grounded to the pitcher. No runs, one hit, one left.

Braves--Blauser struck out. Smoltz struck out. Grissom struck out. No runs, no hits.

FOURTH INNING

Cardinals 1, Braves 0

Cardinals--Gant struck out. Jordan lined to second. Gaetti flied to right. No runs, no hits.

Braves--Lemke flied to center. C.Jones singled to third. McGriff flied to center. Klesko singled to right-center, C.Jones taking third. Lopez forced Klesko. No runs, two hits, two left.

FIFTH INNING

Braves 2, Cardinals 1

Cardinals--Mabry grounded to short. Pagnozzi flied to right. Alicea walked. Benes walked. Smith popped to first. No runs, no hits, two left.

Braves--Dye struck out. Blauser singled to right. Smoltz struck out. Grissom doubled to left, Blauser stopping at third. Lemke singled to right-center, Grissom and Blauser scoring. C.Jones singled to left, Lemke stopping at second. McGriff forced C.Jones. Two runs, four hits, two left.

SIXTH INNING

Braves 2, Cardinals 1

Cardinals--Lankford flied to center. Gant flied to right. Jordan struck out. No runs, no hits.

Braves--Klesko flied to left. Lopez flied to right. Dye flied to left. No runs, no hits.

SEVENTH INNING

Braves 2, Cardinals 2

Cardinals--Gaetti singled to center. Mejia ran for Gaetti. Mabry singled to center, Mejia taking third. Pagnozzi singled to right-center, Mejia scoring, Mabry stopping at second. Alicea flied to left. McGee, batting for Benes, flied to left. On Smoltz’s wild pitch, Mabry took third, Pagnozzi took second. Smith grounded to short. One run, three hits, two left.

Braves--Petkovsek pitching. Blauser flied to right. Smoltz struck out. Grissom struck out. No runs, no hits.

EIGHTH INNING

Braves 4, Cardinals 2

Cardinals--Lankford flied to left. Gant flied to center. Jordan flied to center. No runs, no hits.

Braves--Lemke walked. C.Jones singled to the pitcher, Lemke stopping at second and taking third on Alicea’s fielding error. Fossas replaced Petkovsek. A.Jones ran for Lemke. C.Jones stole second. McGriff popped to short. Pendleton batting for Klesko. Mathews replaced Fossas. Pendleton was intentionally walked. Lopez singled to center, A.Jones and C.Jones scoring, Pendleton stopping at second. Dye struck out. Blauser struck out. Two runs, two hits, one error, two left.

NINTH INNING

Braves 4, Cardinals 2

Cardinals--Wohlers pitching. Sweeney, batting for Gallego, struck out. Mabry grounded to second. Pagnozzi grounded to first. No runs, no hits.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

* GAME 1--Braves 4, Cardinals 2

* GAME 2--Today, St. Louis (Stottlemyre, 14-11) at Atlanta (Maddux, 15-11), 5 p.m.

* GAME 3--Saturday, Atlanta (Glavine, 15-10) at St. Louis (Osborne, 13-9), 1:15 p.m.

* GAME 4--Sunday, Atlanta at St. Louis, 4:30 p.m.

* GAME 5--xMonday, Atlanta at St. Louis, 4 p.m.

* GAME 6--xWednesday--St. Louis at Atlanta, 1:15 p.m.

* GAME 7--xThursday, Oct. 17--St. Louis at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

x-If necessary.