Maddux Can’t Complete the Job

Greg Maddux threw five strong innings but left with a strained muscle in his right side and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Atlanta, 6-3, Wednesday night, ending the Braves’ seven-game winning streak.

Erubiel Durazo doubled twice, scored two runs and drove in the go-ahead run in Arizona’s three-run eighth inning. Steve Finley had a two-run double in the inning against former Arizona reliever Darren Holmes (2-2).

Matt Mantei (2-1) got the victory despite giving up a two-run game-tying 431-foot homer to Chipper Jones in the eighth.

Plate umpire Angel Hernandez threw out Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox in the top of the third inning, then ejected pitching coach Leo Mazzone while reliever Mike Remlinger, who left because of an undisclosed injury, was being replaced in the eighth.

Maddux, who has a 1-5 career record against Arizona, gave up one run and three hits.

Remlinger gave up a leadoff single to Tony Womack in the eighth, then was replaced by Holmes with a 2-and-0 count on Craig Counsell.

Arizona had taken a 3-1 lead in the seventh thanks to reliever Tim Spooneybarger’s throwing error.

With the score tied, 1-1, Spooneybarger walked Finley. David Dellucci bounced one to the pitcher, but Spooneybarger’s short throw sailed over the head of first baseman Matt Franco, and Finley raced home from first.

Catcher Henry Blanco threw Dellucci out at third on the play for the second out. But Barajas hit Spooneybarger’s next pitch into the left-field seats.