Glavine Blanks Rockies at Coors Field

After a slow start, Kenny Lofton is starting to tame National League pitching, while Tom Glavine is doing his best to tame Coors Field.

Glavine pitched his first shutout since 1995--when he earned the first one ever at Coors Field--and Lofton had five hits Friday night, leading the Atlanta Braves over the Colorado Rockies 14-0.

“I love this place,” quipped Glavine, who gave up seven earned runs--the most in his career--during his last visit to Coors Field. “I remember I pitched a shutout here before, so I know it can be done in this ballpark.”

Lofton took a genuine liking to the altitude, matching a career high with his second five-hit game of the week. Atlanta won its sixth in a row and is 12-1 since losing its first two games of the season.

“He’s amazing,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said of Lofton. “Kenny’s got a chance to hit anywhere from .300 to .380. He’s that good.”

Lofton homered and scored four runs. Fred McGriff had four hits and four runs batted in and Chipper Jones and Michael Tucker each added three hits for the Braves. Glavine also had one of Atlanta’s 23 hits.

“When you don’t throw strikes, and you’ve got to play catchup and groove one in there, they’re going to unload on it every time,” said Colorado starter Jamey Wright (2-1), who didn’t get out of the third inning.

The Rockies, who lost for just the second time in 12 games, found few holes, grounding into a team-record five double plays, four that ended innings.

Glavine (3-0) scattered eight hits, walked one and struck out six in becoming the first pitcher to throw two shutouts at Coors Field. It was his 14th career shutout, and first since blanking the Rockies at Denver on June 16, 1995.

“I come here realistically thinking, ‘Hey, I can give up four runs and that’s a pretty good game.’ I’ll take my chances with that,” Glavine said. “Most other ballparks you go out there trying to give up two runs or less.”

Lofton, acquired in a preseason trade with Cleveland, had the third five-hit game of his career. He had five hits Monday and four hits in Atlanta’s previous game Wednesday.

“I think I’m starting to swing at good pitches and at strikes,” said Lofton. “I just think about putting the ball in play.”

Behind Lofton and the top of the order, the Braves built a 10-0 lead before the Rockies had even made it through their batting order.

The first four hitters in the Atlanta lineup were 11 for 12 with nine RBIs through the first three innings and finished a combined 17 for 23.

San Francisco 5, Florida 4--Jeff Kent singled home the winning run as the Giants rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, defeating the Marlins at San Francisco for their seventh consecutive victory.

Robb Nen (1-1) blew a save for only the second time in 26 chances dating to last season.

With Florida ahead, 4-2, Nen walked pinch-hitters Marvin Benard and Bill Mueller and gave up an infield hit to Jose Vizcaino. Glenallen Hill tied the game with a double off the center-field wall, Barry Bonds was intentionally walked and Kent singled over shortstop with the infield in.

Doug Henry (1-0) got the final two outs in the ninth.

Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 1--Deion Sanders hit his third career inside-the-park homer and Dave Burba struck out 11 over six innings as the slumping Reds capitalized on sloppy defense to win at Pittsburgh.

Burba, lifted after throwing 119 pitches on a chilly night and running the bases in the seventh, combined with Mike Remlinger, Jeff Shaw and Jeff Brantley for 16 strikeouts.

All of the Reds’ runs resulted from defensive misplays, including rookie left fielder Emil Brown’s impulsive attempt to make an across-the-body, shoe-top catch of Sanders’ sinking line drive in the third.

Sanders, who was three for four, hit a slicing drive about 10 feet off the foul line. Brown couldn’t catch up to the ball as it bounced under his glove and rolled toward the wall. Sanders didn’t even kick it into overdrive to score, sliding well ahead of the relay throw and catcher Jason Kendall’s tag.

Philadelphia 8, Montreal 3--Calvin Maduro got his first major league victory, and Rico Brogna drove in three runs as the Phillies stopped a five-game losing streak, at Philadelphia.

Maduro (1-2), a 22-year-old from Aruba, was making his fifth big league start. On a night with a 24-degree wind chill and a steady drizzle during the middle of the game, he gave up three runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings, struck out three and walked none.

After giving up David Segui’s run-scoring triple in the first, Maduro retired 14 consecutive batters. Sherman Obando added a two-run homer in the eighth.

Chicago at New York--The game between the Cubs and Mets was postponed by rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Deion Sanders Cincinnati Kenny Lofton Atlanta Rico Brogna Philadelphia Michael Tucker Atlanta

Player Performance Team’s Result Deion Sanders 3 for 4, inside-the-park HR Win Kenny Lofton 5 hits, 30 for 58 since 1 for 12 in 1st 3 games Win Rico Brogna 2 for 4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI Win Michael Tucker 3 for 5, 2 runs, 3 RBI Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Tom Glavine Atlanta 8-hit shutout at Coors Field, 6 strikeouts Dave Burba Cincinnati 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 11 strikeouts

Player Team’s Result Tom Glavine Win Dave Burba Win

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