Maddux Gets Victory No. 298

Efficient and economical, Greg Maddux mowed down the Cincinnati Reds and moved closer to one of baseball’s most cherished milestones.

Maddux needed only 92 pitches over 2 hours, 15 minutes to throw a four-hit complete game for his 298th victory Thursday, and his Chicago teammates hit four homers in the Cubs’ 13-2 win.

“Runs, man. Runs are a beautiful thing,” Maddux said. “When you get a lead like that, it changes the way the game is played.”

Maddux (9-7) pitched his second consecutive complete game and 105th of his career. It was the first time he pitched consecutive complete games since Sept. 7 and 13, 2000, when he went the distance against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins while with the Atlanta Braves.

“I’ve never really been that big on complete games. When you have that many runs and you are playing as many days as we are in a row, it’s important to pitch that extra inning,” he said.

He struck out six and did not walk a batter.