Maddux Back to Old Habits

What was good news for the Atlanta Braves was bad news for the rest of the National League: Greg Maddux looked like his old self.

Maddux, off to the worst start of his career, earned his first win of the season by pitching the Braves past the Florida Marlins, 7-1, Sunday.

Maddux (1-3) gave up one run and two hits in six innings, lowering his earned-run average from 11.05 to 8.27. The four-time Cy Young Award winner had lost his first three starts for the first time ever.

“What did you think he was going to do, go 2-14?” said Mike Lowell, who homered in the second for the only Florida run. “He’s won 15 games for 15 straight years.”

Pitching on three days’ rest, Maddux walked none and struck out three. He threw 59 pitches, 40 for strikes, before leaving because of a slightly sore neck.

“When you’re fighting yourself, you’re fighting every pitch,” Maddux said about his early-season struggles. “I was fighting a little today. Hopefully it’ll be more fun next time out. I didn’t really settle down.”

The Braves gladly will take the Maddux of Sunday.

“He was more into it today, not that he wasn’t into it during his other starts,” Brave catcher Henry Blanco said. “He really wanted do everything right.”

Vinny Castilla homered and drove in five runs as the Braves stopped Florida’s four-game winning streak. Andruw Jones had two hits and walked three times.

Still, the story was Maddux getting into the win column.

“It’s important,” Cox said. “But hey, Randy Johnson is looking to get [a win] under his belt.”