Braves Keep Warm With Klesko’s Bat

For the first couple of months this season, Ryan Klesko struggled. But the weather warmed up and so did his bat, putting him on pace for a second consecutive 30-homer season.

Klesko homered twice and drove in three runs Thursday night, leading the Atlanta Braves to an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies as Greg Maddux became the National League’s first 13-game winner.

“Early in the year, I was not swinging at good pitches,” said Klesko, who had 34 homers in 1996 and has 18 this season after a torrid stretch. “I was putting too much pressure on myself to hit home runs.”

Klesko homered in the fourth to put the Braves ahead for good and added his 18th, a two-run shot, in the seventh. It was his sixth two-homer game, the last coming Aug. 26, 1996, against the Pirates.

He doesn’t think Atlanta’s sweltering summer heat is responsible for his power surge, which includes 14 RBIs in his last 11 games.

“The ball carries better when the weather is warmer, no doubt about it,” he said. “But I don’t think that’s helping me that much because I’m hitting the heck out of the ball.”

Colorado, which has plummeted in the NL West standings over the last month by losing 19 of 25 games, jumped on Maddux in the first when Larry Walker homered with two outs. It was the only hit for Walker in four at-bats, dropping his average from .404 to .402.

Maddux (13-3), who was lifted for a pinch-hitter when the Braves pulled away with a four-run seventh, gave up seven hits in winning his sixth consecutive decision. He also kept himself in contention for his fifth Cy Young Award in six years.

“I want to get to the postseason. That’s what really matters,” said Maddux, whose ERA of 2.49 ranks third in the NL. “I know it’s early to talk about that. But regardless of how many wins I get, what happens after the regular season is what really matters.”

After Walker’s homer, the Braves tied the score in their half of the first with a two-out rally. Chipper Jones singled and Fred McGriff brought him home with a double to center.