Maddux Gets Back on Track

Greg Maddux knew when to quit.

That’s one reason he became the league’s first 13-game winner Thursday night, helping the Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Atlanta.

Maddux (13-3), who had a 10-game winning streak snapped in his last start, limited the Brewers to four hits and one earned run in 6 2/3 innings, keeping his earned-run average at a major league-best 1.57.

Maddux left in the seventh with a 3-2 lead and runners at first and second and two out. Russ Springer came in and struck out Marquis Grissom for the third out, preserving the lead for the four-time Cy Young Award winner.

“I was kind of done, really,” said Maddux, who had thrown 98 pitches in the 87-degree heat and high humidity. “I didn’t like my chances against Grissom in that situation. He lined out twice [to right field and left] in his last two at-bats on a fastball and change.

“I just had a feeling something bad was going to happen [if I stayed in].”

Maddux’s personal catcher, Eddie Perez, snapped a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning off Cal Eldred (4-8). Perez added another RBI single in the eighth off Chad Fox.

Philadelphia 4, New York 2--Two defensive lapses by new outfielder Todd Hundley led to all of the Phillies’ runs at Shea Stadium.

Hundley, a two-time all-star catcher playing his fourth game in left field after returning from reconstructive elbow surgery, misjudged a fly ball in the first inning, allowing two runs to score.

Hundley dropped a routine fly in the eighth as Philadelphia made it 4-1, and he had a throwing error in the ninth.

The Mets’ offense was nearly as bad, stranding 11 runners.

Mike Lieberthal had two doubles, a triple and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who have won eight of their last 10.

Mark Portugal (5-2) limited the Mets to one run and seven hits in six innings for his third win in his last five starts. Mark Leiter pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Montreal 10, Pittsburgh 5--Mark Grudzielanek hit a three-run homer during a six-run fifth inning to lead the Expos at Montreal.

Grudzielanek’s homer chased Jason Schmidt (8-6), who gave up all six runs with two out. The Pirates have lost 13 of their last 17 games.

Chris Widger led off the fifth with a single, Orlando Cabrera singled with one out, and Ryan McGuire walked to load the bases.

After first baseman Kevin Young caught Vladimir Guerrero’s liner for the second out, Rondell White walked to tie the score at 1-1. Brad Fullmer followed with a two-run single and Grudzielanek then hit his sixth homer of the season.