No Knocks on Wood as He Outdoes Maddux

Chicago’s Kerry Wood had 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 shutout innings, outdueling Greg Maddux as the Cubs defeated the Braves, 3-0, on Tuesday in Atlanta.

“I just went out and turned it up a little,” said Wood (9-5), who reached double-figure strikeouts for the sixth time in 18 major league starts.

At the opposing end of the spectrum was another 21-year-old, Braves’ center fielder Andruw Jones.

He was thrown out at home after running through a coach’s sign, struck out with the bases loaded and finally suffered the ignominy of being replaced in the middle of an inning for a lack of hustle, letting a soft line drive plop in front of him.

“I didn’t think he was tired,” Brave Manager Cox said sarcastically. “You’ve got to respect the game. It was obvious that he didn’t try for the ball. It’s as simple as that.”

When asked if he planned disciplinary action against his center fielder, Cox said he’s already levied numerous fines for similar transgressions.

“He’s about to go broke already,” the manager said. “I doubt if he’s going to make any more money the rest of the (expletive) season.”

The Jones’ situation overshadowed one of the best pitching matchups of the season. Before a sellout crowd at Turner Field, Wood gave up five hits and twice escaped trouble with strikeouts to defeat Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner.

“It’s great for baseball,” Cub manager Jim Riggleman said. “And with a full house, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Mickey Morandini had a two-out, run-scoring single in the third, and the Cubs added two more runs in the fourth on Jose Hernandez’s run-scoring grounder and a squeeze bunt by former Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser.

That was enough to beat Maddux (13-4), who lost for the first time to his former team, entering the game with a 7-0 career record and 1.51 ERA against the Cubs.

“We made and few mistakes and they didn’t,” Maddux said. “I’m happy with the way I threw the ball.”

The Cubs’ Sammy Sosoa did go one for four, but did not hit a home run.

New York 4, Pittsburgh 0--Rick Reed pitched eight shutout innings and drove in a run at New York as the Mets ended the Pirates’ four-game winning streak.

Reed (11-6) gave up six hits and struck out nine for the Mets, who have got their last three wins with shutouts. New York pitchers have combined for 12 shutouts this season, tying them with Atlanta for tops in the league.

John Franco, pitching for the first time since serving a three-game suspension for bumping an umpire, pitched the ninth. The left-hander gave up two hits and struck out two.

The Mets’ Todd Hundley recorded his first outfield assist in the fifth inning with a throw to third.

He also had a run-scoring double in the Mets’ four-run third.

Philadelphia 3, Montreal 2--Mark Portugal pitched a four-hitter at Montreal, working out of a ninth-inning jam as the Phillies picked up their third consecutive victory.

Portugal (6-2) took a two-hitter and a 3-1 lead into the ninth before loading the bases with one out in the final inning.

However, Portugal struck out pinch-hitter Robert Perez and got Mark Grudzielanek on a comebacker.

Portugal also appeared to hit a two-run homer with one out in the sixth but had to settle for a ground-rule double when his drive to left actually lodged in the space between two panels of padding a few feet from the top of the wall.

Milwaukee 6, Florida 4--Mark Loretta snapped a tie with a run-scoring double in the ninth, leading the Brewers over the Marlins at Florida.

The Brewers, who came back from a 4-0 deficit, won all nine games from the Marlins in the season series. It is the first time Milwaukee has won every game against an opponent in a season.

Fernando Vina led off the ninth with a double off Antonio Alfonseca (2-3). One out later, Loretta hit a drive off the top of the wall in left field, scoring Vina. Jeff Cirillo’s run-scoring groundout then made it 6-4.

San Diego 6, St. Louis 3--Kevin Brown held Mark McGwire hitless and won his ninth consecutive decision as the Padres defeated the Cardinals to split a two-game series at San Diego.

It was the sixth time Brown has won following a Padres loss. The Cardinals dealt the Padres their worst defeat of the season Monday night, 13-1, as McGwire hit his major league-leading 43rd homer.

Brown (12-3) issued McGwire his major league-leading 104th walk with two out in the first inning. He then got him to hit into an inning-ending double play in the third and caught him looking twice on third-strike fastballs.

Cardinal starter Kent Mercker allowed five singles in the fifth, with Ken Caminiti and Ruben Rivera driving in runs. Tony Gwynn hit a run-scoring single in the sixth.

Arizona 5, San Francisco 3--Devon White’s bases-loaded single capped a three-run rally in the seventh inning to give the Diamondbacks a victory at San Francisco.

Andy Benes (7-1) went six innings for the victory, giving up three runs and eight hits. Gregg Olson pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Orel Hershiser (8-8) pitched 6 1/3 innings before giving way to Rich Rodriguez, who gave up a walk to Travis Lee before White’s game-winning hit.