Glavine Is Happy to Beat Yankees

Tom Glavine always has been overshadowed by teammates and overlooked by opponents. On Tuesday night, he was again the “other” pitcher and, as usual, he was the winning one.

Glavine pitched eight strong innings and the Atlanta Braves introduced Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez to National League-style baseball with a 7-2 victory over New York, snapping the Yankees’ nine-game home winning streak.

Glavine (10-3) became the NL’s third 10-game winner. The left-hander, who shut out the Yankees for nine innings on June 30 last year and got a no-decision, gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out one.

“I’m not going to say it’s not special, it is,” said Glavine, who also lost Game 3 of the 1996 World Series to New York. “I grew up a Yankee hater from Boston, so I’m aware of what Yankee Stadium is and what this place means in the history of baseball.

“You throw in the mix the fact that these guys are playing so well, and all the hype that’s surrounding this matchup, and it was a fun game for me to win.”

Pitching on a staff with Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, Glavine rarely has received the credit he deserves. Few realize he’s the winningest left-hander in baseball the past 11 years, and second only to Maddux in wins since 1991.

“Tommy is a great pitcher, he’s a big-game pitcher, a money pitcher. Always has been,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s got as much guts as you could ever imagine. Just watching him pitch tonight. He won’t give in, won’t give in to anybody. He’ll figure out a way to beat you.”

Atlanta found the best way to beat Hernandez (2-1) is a base at a time. The Braves were patient at the plate as the Cuban right-hander tried unsuccessfully to nip the corners or get batters to swing at balls outside the strike zone.

Hernandez didn’t get out of the fourth inning of his fourth major league start. He gave up six hits and six runs--three earned--in 3 2/3 innings. He was hurt by four walks, two with the bases loaded.

“When you’re wild, it’s not a matter of being real high or real low, it’s a matter of this,” New York Manager Joe Torre said, holding his fingers inches apart.

Ryan Klesko went three for four and Ozzie Guillen doubled twice and scored three runs for the Braves.