Braves Break Open a Tight Game and Apply Clincher

The Atlanta Braves have stumbled often in the postseason despite their success in the decade.

They haven’t won as many World Series championships as they believe they should have, and the National League championship series have provided bad memories as well. But no team has been better in the division series.

The Braves added to their impressive record in a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night--sweeping the Cubs in the best-of-five series.

Atlanta starter Greg Maddux pitched seven-plus strong innings to help the Braves win their 10 successive division series game, and catcher Eduardo Perez hit a grand slam that highlighted the Braves’ five-run eighth.

Maddux and his battery mate played the biggest roles in ending the Cubs’ first postseason appearance since 1989, and they ruined a party for a sellout crowd of 39,597 on a cold and windy night at Wrigley Field.

Rookie pitcher Kerry Wood provided an additional boost to an already frenzied crowd by pitching well in his first start since Aug. 31, but the Braves took command against the Cub bullpen. Slugger Sammy Sosa failed to homer in the series after hitting 66 in the regular season, indicative of the Cubs’ offensive problems against the Braves’ dominant pitching staff.

The Braves have advanced to the NL championship series for the seventh season in a row. They await the winner of San Diego-Houston in the NLCS beginning Wednesday at Turner Field.

Another division series, another party.

“We’re just taking care of business,” said Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, who was sprayed with champagne as he spoke in the visitors’ clubhouse.

“When you’ve been here as many times as we have, you learn how to play in this atmosphere. I give all the props in the world to the four teams we’ve played [in the division series], and they all were good enough to to get to the NLCS. But when you go up against Maddux, [Tom] Glavine and [John] Smoltz, it’s not going to be easy.”

It wasn’t for the Cubs throughout the series.

On Saturday, Maddux (1-0) gave up seven hits and was charged with two runs. Maddux struck out four without a walk while displaying his typical command, throwing 60 strikes in 90 pitches.

He improved to 4-0 with a 2.43 earned-run average in five division series starts, and the Braves are 12-1 behind Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz since the division series began in 1995.

Maddux also improved to 8-1 with a 1.77 ERA against the Cubs, for whom he pitched from 1987-92. Maddux, who signed with the Braves as a free agent, didn’t leave on the best of terms, and he acknowledged that Saturday’s game had added significance for him.

“It’s tough,” Maddux said. “For me personally, after all that went on here, it takes a long time to let it go. I did a good job of letting it go, and time flies, but it’s still tough.”

Maddux’s counterpart Saturday is beloved by Cub fans. Wood--expected to be selected the NL rookie of the year--had not pitched since Aug. 31 because he suffered a strained ligament in his throwing elbow.

Many feared he might be jeopardizing his career by pitching again this season, especially because his strained ligament might tighten in the cold. The game-time temperature was 57 degrees.

A Chicago Sun-Times columnist criticized Cub Manager Jim Riggleman, writing that the situation was futile and that putting Wood at risk lacked “common sense.” And many believed that Riggleman should have started veteran Steve Trachsel, saying it was unfair to put the weight of trying to prolong the Cub season on an injured 21-year-old.

With that as a backdrop, Wood was impressive.

Wood (0-1) pitched five innings--Riggleman hoped for six--and gave up three hits and one run. He struck out five and walked four, one intentionally, while throwing 97 pitches, 52 for strikes.

The Braves broke open the game in the eighth against relievers Terry Mulholland and Rod Beck. Mulholland retired six in a row after relieving Wood to open the sixth.

Keith Lockhart singled to start the eighth and Jones walked, putting runners on first and second with none out. Enter Beck.

The portly closer saved 51 games, and his performance was among the main reasons the Cubs qualified for the postseason. Beck pitched courageously throughout the season, but he appeared to have a “dead arm” because Riggleman overworked him down the stretch while the Cubs struggled to earn the wild-card berth.

And Beck had nothing Saturday.

After getting Andres Galarraga to fly out for the first out, Gerald Williams had a run-scoring single, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead.

The runners advanced to second and third on an error by shortstop Jose Hernandez, and Andruw Jones was walked intentionally. On the first pitch against Beck, Perez homered to left, marking his second hit in 16 postseason at-bats, and his first extra-base hit.

At that moment, Sosa figured the Cubs’ exciting season would soon end. After the game, the man expected to be selected the NL MVP ran around the outfield blowing kisses at fans to thank them for their support as they gave him a standing ovation.

“No one will forget 1998--it was an unbelievable year,” Sosa said. “We wanted to bring the fans the World Series, but the Braves have a very good team. They played great.”

They typically do in the division series.