Maddux and Braves Continue Their March

Greg Maddux became the 94th pitcher in major league history to win 200 games, pitching seven innings Tuesday night as the Atlanta Braves doubled their way to an 8-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Atlanta.

Maddux (16-6) reached another milestone in a remarkable career, pushing his lifetime record to 200-114--including 105-39 during six seasons in Atlanta. By giving up only one earned run, he lowered his major league-leading earned-run average to 1.65.

“He’s got a good chance to win 300 games,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “I think he’ll pitch six or seven more years. Hopefully he can, because that’s how long it’s going to take.”

Actually, it won’t take that long if Maddux maintains his current pace. He has averaged 17.6 wins over the past decade, which puts the 32-year-old on line to reach 300 in less than six years.

“I haven’t thought about it. I really haven’t,” Maddux said. “I’ll just get ready for my next game and go from there like I always do.”

The Braves had nine hits--all doubles. Gerald Williams, Danny Bautista and Walt Weiss each had two doubles, and catcher Eddie Perez secured the victory in the seventh with a three-run double.

Chicago 4, St. Louis 1--Sammy Sosa was almost apologetic--happy the Cubs won but disappointed he couldn’t give a charged crowd of 40,249 what it came to see.

Mark McGwire didn’t come through either when the two home run leaders met at breezy Wrigley Field.

Putting pressure on themselves as they played face to face, McGwire and Sosa combined to go hitless in nine at-bats with three strikeouts each.

“He went up there almost the same way I felt,” Sosa said after he and McGwire remained tied with 47 homers. “I was swinging so hard trying to hit the ball hard, and when you are trying to hit the ball so hard, you aren’t going to make contact.”

McGwire struck out with two on in the ninth against Rod Beck, who relieved starter Steve Trachsel. Sosa struck out with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Chicago got three runs batted in from .200-hitting catcher Scott Servais--all on infield grounders--and four hits from Jose Hernandez as Trachsel (13-6) won for the seventh time in eight decisions.

New York 6-6, Colorado 2-3--Al Leiter shut down Colorado in the opener and Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the second game at New York.

Edgardo Alfonzo, Todd Hundley, John Olerud and Brian McRae homered in the opener for the Mets, who because of rainouts are playing seven games in a four-day span.

Lenny Harris’ first homer since June 5, 1997, a two-run shot in the eighth, added a cushion in the second game as New York (68-55) won for the eighth time in 11 games and moved ahead of the Chicago Cubs (69-56) by less than a percentage point in the National League wild-card race.

New York, which has swept four of five doubleheaders this season, trailed, 3-1, in the second game when Piazza hit for Carlos Baerga. Olerud had singled off starter John Thomson, reliever Chuck McElroy (4-3) walked Hundley on four pitches and McRae hit an infield single. Piazza then doubled to center.

In the opener, Leiter (12-4) gave up two runs and 10 hits in eight innings, striking out five.

Houston 8, Philadelphia 2--Jeff Bagwell was three for five with five RBIs, and Craig Biggio went three for four with two runs for the Astros at Philadelphia.

Jose Lima (12-6) won his fourth decision in a row for Houston, which had dropped three of four games. Lima gave up four hits--three to Rico Brogna--in seven innings, and struck out four.

Houston chased Phillie starter Mike Grace (4-6) after he gave up eight hits and six runs in five innings.

Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 4--Jeromy Burnitz hit his 28th homer, the most of his career, and Bobby Hughes added a two-run shot for the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Burnitz, who hit 27 homers last season, opened the sixth inning with a solo shot to put Milwaukee ahead, 4-1. Hughes’ sixth homer gave the Brewers an 8-1 lead in the seventh.

Montreal 7, Arizona 1--Brad Fullmer had his first two-homer game and fellow rookie Javier Vazquez won his first game in eight starts as the Expos ended a seven-game losing streak at Phoenix.

Shane Andrews hit a home run and added a double as the Expos pounded Brian Anderson (8-12) for seven runs and nine hits in five innings.

Matt Williams hit a home run in the fourth for Arizona, his first since June 30.