Mets Find Maddux Is Unbeatable

Greg Maddux extended his scoreless streak to 29 innings, the longest of his career, and the Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Mets, 6-3, Monday night at Atlanta.

Maddux (18-8), coming off consecutive four-hit shutouts of Arizona and Florida, allowed five hits in seven innings, walked none and struck out one to beat Mike Hampton (13-10).

“It’s just luck, flat out luck,” Maddux said. “That’s how this game is. Sometimes they hit the ball and it goes right at somebody. That’s how it goes when things are going right.”

Maddux left with a 6-0 lead, after throwing only 83 pitches. He stayed in after Todd Zeile hit a one-hop liner off his left calf in the fifth.

“It didn’t really bother me. It’s no big deal,” Maddux said.

Atlanta, seeking its ninth consecutive division title, has won 19 of 21 games against the Mets in Atlanta since 1997, including last year’s playoffs.

The Braves increased their National League East lead to four games over the second-place Mets--their widest since Aug. 8--by winning the opener of a three-game series. The teams play three games in New York next week.

The Mets, who held a half-game lead over the Braves entering September, have staggered to a 6-11 record this month.

Mike Piazza, who was one for four, is also slumping, with nine hits in his last 53 at-bats (.170).

Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 1--Osvaldo Fernandez (3-3) pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game since Aug. 25, 1996 for the Reds at San Francisco.

The Giants got only one runner to second base before the ninth inning, when Barry Bonds hit a two-out RBI double.

Alex Ochoa had four hits, scored three runs and drove in a run for the Reds, who won their fourth in a row. Benito Santiago hit a ninth-inning homer and drove in three runs.

Milwaukee 2, Chicago 1--Jeff D’Amico dominated the Cubs once again, taking a shutout into the ninth inning as the Brewers began their final homestand with a victory.

D’Amico (12-5) won for the third time in three starts this season against the Cubs. He pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings against the Cubs this season before allowing a run in the ninth.

D’Amico has won 10 of his last 11 decisions.

The Cubs’ Sammy Sosa, who leads the majors with 50 home runs, was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning with lower back tightness. He is day to day.

Chicago has lost sixth straight games and 16 of 18.

Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 5--Adrian Brown’s two-run double highlighted a four-run eighth inning as the Pirates ended a nine-game losing streak by winning at Philadelphia.

Montreal 11, Florida 4--Vladimir Guerrero homered twice for the second consecutive game and his brother Wilton hit his second homer of the season to lead the Expos over the Marlins at Montreal.