Schilling Is on His Game

This hasn’t been a typical season for Curt Schilling or Greg Maddux.

Schilling has been on the disabled list twice -- first with an appendectomy, then a broken hand. Maddux has been hit hard in several games, coming into his latest start with an earned-run average over 4.00.

Schilling pitched one-hit ball for eight innings Sunday and struck out 12 in a classic duel with Maddux, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves, 2-0, at Atlanta.

“Any time you go against Greg, runs are going to be at a premium. I don’t care what his numbers say,” Schilling said. “He and I have pitched some games in the past just like this. You have to do everything correct fundamentally. You just have to push to be the first team to score.”

The Diamondbacks did that in the seventh, when Alex Cintron broke up a scoreless game with a home run off Maddux. Cintron scored again in the ninth, when he doubled against Kent Mercker and came home on a single by Rod Barajas.

Schilling (7-6) won the power-versus-finesse matchup with a dominating performance against the league’s best-hitting team. Marcus Giles had the only hit off Schilling, a double in the first inning.

In the ninth, Matt Mantei walked Giles and allowed a single to Gary Sheffield, who extended his hitting streak to 21 games and brought the potential winning run to the plate. But Mantei wound up striking out the side, whiffing Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones for his 18th save in 20 chances.

Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 4 -- Amaury Telemaco won for the first time in more than two years, retiring the final 14 batters he faced as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

Jim Thome and Pat Burrell each hit two-run homers in the third inning for the Phillies, who have won five in a row and lead Florida by half-game in the wild-card race.

The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols, who has a major league-best 30-game hitting streak, sat out because of flu-like symptoms. St. Louis has lost four of its last five.

Telemaco (1-0), called up Sunday to replace Brandon Duckworth in the starting rotation, gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings for his first win since June 6, 2001.

Thome broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run shot to the upper deck in right off Brett Tomko (9-8).

Philadelphia closer Jose Mesa shoved a reporter in the team’s locker room after he failed to convert a save. He sat in front of his locker with one hand on his knee and the other rubbing his chin.

A reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer approached Mesa, who began cursing. A heated argument ensued before Mesa raised both arms and pushed the reporter away. Reliever Carlos Silva came between the two before Mesa walked into the trainer’s room.

Mesa entered the game with one out in the ninth inning with the Phillies holding a 6-3 lead and Edgar Renteria on first base. Miguel Cairo had an RBI single. Mesa struck out Eduardo Perez for the second out but then walked Mike Matheny.

Cincinnati 4, Houston 3 -- Juan Castro’s three-run homer helped the Reds win two of three at Cincinnati for their first series win against the Astros this season.

Houston moved into first place on July 8 and led by as many as four games, but a 2-5 trip to Chicago and Cincinnati brought them back to the pack and briefly knocked them from the top spot.

The Astros are still in first place, but only a game separates them, the Cubs and the Cardinals. Chicago lost to the Dodgers, leaving the Cubs half a game behind. The Cardinals are one game back after losing to Philadelphia.

Florida 11, San Diego 7 -- Josh Beckett (6-6) gave up two runs in a career-best eight innings at Miami, and the Marlins completed a three-game sweep for their eighth series sweep this season -- their sixth at Miami.

Ivan Rodriguez and Luis Castillo had two RBIs apiece for the Marlins, who remained half-game behind Philadelphia in the wild-card race.

New York 6, Colorado 4 -- Cliff Floyd had four more hits since announcing his season will end today, and Al Leiter (12-6) pitched six strong innings to lead the Mets to their season-high fifth straight victory.

Floyd is 10 for 11 in three games since deciding to have season-ending surgery on his aching Achilles’ tendon.

He had an RBI single in a two-run first and singled and scored in the third when the Mets took a 5-0 lead against Jason Jennings (10-11).

Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 2 -- At Pittsburgh, Reggie Sanders and Tike Redman hit two-run homers, and Josh Fogg rebounded from the worst start of his career as the Pirates handed the Brewers their fifth consecutive series loss.

Fogg (7-7) failed to get an out Tuesday against St. Louis. He faced six batters, yielding five hits and a walk, and left trailing, 6-0. This time, he gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing in 10 starts.