Maddux Obeys the ‘Don’t Walk’ Sign

Location. Location. Location.

That’s what Greg Maddux had Friday night, throwing only 18 balls among 89 pitches to beat the Phillies, 7-1, on a six-hitter at Atlanta.

“That was a clinic,” Philadelphia Manager Terry Francona said. “He makes the plate look like it’s twice as big as it is.”

Maddux (10-3) struck out eight and walked none, lowered his earned-run average to 2.55 and sent the Phillies to their 12th loss in 13 games. Four of the strikeouts were by Darren Daulton, ejected in the ninth after arguing a called third strike with plate umpire Terry Tata.

Maddux, 21-10 against the Phillies, did not give up a run until Rico Brogna’s RBI double with two outs in the ninth, scoring Mickey Morandini, who led off with an infield hit.

“I got the ball up to Brogna and made a bad pitch to Morandini, throwing it right down the middle,” Maddux said. “It was my fault. Sure, I’d like to pitch a shutout. You try to throw one every game. I came within two pitches. I still feel good.”

Maddux extended his string to 27 innings without giving up a walk. Maddux has given up only 13 walks in 116 2/3 innings this season.

Jeff Blauser had three hits, including a two-run homer. Fred McGriff and Andruw Jones drove in two runs each for Atlanta.

Blauser, hitting in the leadoff spot for the ninth consecutive game while Kenny Lofton is sidelined because of a pulled groin muscle, raised his average to .353.

“It doesn’t matter where he hits, whether its first, second, third, seventh or eighth,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s having one of those super years.”

Chicago 2, Houston 1--Kevin Foster won for the sixth time in eight decisions, and Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston drove in the Cubs’ runs at Chicago in windy conditions.

Foster (9-5), who lost to Houston, 3-1, in his previous start, gave up seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, helping the Cubs win for the third time in 11 games. Turk Wendell finished with hitless relief for his fourth save.

Pittsburgh 6, New York 1--Another bad loss for the Pirates--only this time, it came on a night they won.

Jason Schmidt shut down the Mets at Pittsburgh for the second time in a week with his first career complete game, despite losing third baseman Joe Randa with a broken finger. Randa, the fourth Pittsburgh regular to go down with a hand injury in six weeks, will be out at least four weeks. He broke his left little finger sliding while stretching a double into a triple in the Pirates’ four-run first inning.

Pirate General Manager Cam Bonifay did not immediately make a roster move to replace Randa, but veteran Dale Sveum could get more playing time. Sveum replaced Randa and hit a two-run homer in the third to put the Pirates up, 6-0.

“We felt like with getting a couple of guys back this week that we were going to start scoring some runs again and helping our pitching staff,” Randa said. “It was like our team was pretty much intact again. We’ve played through injuries all year and held out own, and we’re going to have to do it one more time.”

Montreal 2, Florida 0--Dustin Hermanson, Marc Valdes, Dave Veres and Ugueth Urbina combined for the Expos’ club-record seventh shutout in June, limiting the Marlins to six hits at Miami.

Vladimir Guerrero had a career-high four singles and drove in a run as Montreal strung together four singles in a two-run sixth inning.

Marlin starter Kevin Brown (7-5) pitched seven innings, striking out five, walking one and hitting two batters.

The four Expos pitchers shared the brunt of an 87-degree night with 63% humidity.

The heat took its toll on Hermanson, who left because of left leg cramps after the second inning.

Valdes (3-2) pitched three inning for the victory, striking out one and walking one. Urbina got the final three outs for his 14th save.

Cincinnati 5, St. Louis 3--Willie Greene hit his third career grand slam in the sixth inning, leading the Reds over the visiting Cardinals.

Greene hit the first pitch from Alan Benes (7-7) into the second deck in right field for a 5-3 lead. All four runs were unearned, the result of an inning-opening error by second baseman Delino DeShields.

Greene is only a .236 hitter with runners in scoring position, but has one thing in his favor when the bases are loaded. Pitchers are likely to throw him a fastball because they can’t play around with the bases loaded, and Greene is primarily a fastball hitter.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Greene,” Benes said. “That pitch he hit out was a pitch we’d been getting him out on. He had a pretty good swing on it.”

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Willie Greene Cincinnati sixth-inning grand slam Win Jeff Blauser Atlanta 3 for 4, 2-run homer Win V. Guerrero Montreal career-high 4 singles Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Greg Maddux Atlanta 9 innings, 8 strikeouts, no walks Win Jason Schmidt Pittsburgh 9 innings, 9 strikeouts, 5 hits Win Kevin Foster Chicago 6 2/3 innings, 1 run, ninth victory Win

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