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RECAP
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- For the fifth time in his career, Greg Maddux
finished one victory shy of a 20-game season.
|  | | Greg Maddux hadn't allowed a run since Sept. 2 before giving up three runs in the fourth to the Mets. |
The Mets prevented Maddux from reaching the milestone for the
third time in his career and ended the Atlanta ace's scoreless
streak at 39 1/3 innings -- the longest in the majors in 10 years --
as New York's second-stringers won 8-2 Thursday night.
"You always look back at the one or two things you might have
done differently," said Maddux, who also won 19 games in 1989,
1995, 1997 and 1999. "A run here, a play here, or one less hanging
slider. But I feel good about the way I pitched this year and I'm
strong going into the postseason."
Maddux (19-9) had won five straight September starts and hadn't
allowed a run since Sept. 2 before giving up three in the fourth
inning. His streak was the longest since Baltimore's Gregg Olson
pitched 41 straight scoreless innings in 1989-90.
"I was fortunate to go as long as I did," Maddux said.
The Mets beat the Braves in a series for the first time since
winning three of four Sept. 4-7, 1998. But both wins came after
Atlanta clinched the NL East with a victory in Tuesday's opener,
and the final one came with many regulars on the bench.
"We take it for what it is," Mets manager Bobby Valentine
said. "We won two of three. We're playing to win and I'm glad we
won."
One night after clinching the wild-card berth, Mets manager
Bobby Valentine gave many of his regulars the night off. Mike
Piazza, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile, Mike Bordick and Derek Bell all
sat as New York rested for its playoff opener Wednesday at St.
Louis or San Francisco.
Their backups filled in admirably. Todd Pratt had three hits and
three RBI, Kurt Abbott hit a two-run homer, and Lenny Harris and
Matt Franco added RBI.
Bobby J. Jones (11-6) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and seven
hits in eight innings, perhaps solidifying a spot as the fourth
starter in the playoffs. Jones, who started the year 1-3, ended the
season by winning seven of eight decisions.
"It's a credit to Bobby Jones' inner strength and his belief in
himself that he got over that hump," Valentine said.
Maddux retired the first nine batters before a rare bout of
wildness got him into trouble in the fourth. Timo Perez led off
with a walk -- just the third off Maddux this month -- and went to
third when Darryl Hamilton hit a hit-and-run chopper to the vacated
hole at second.
"I didn't hit it hard, but I hit it in the right place,"
Hamilton said.
One out later, Maddux hit Jay Payton, loading the bases. Maddux
fell behind 3-0 before Harris hit a chopper just over Maddux's head
for an RBI infield single. Pratt followed with a two-run single to
right.
"It's unfortunate. It was just a couple of choppers," Braves
manager Bobby Cox said. "That's what happened. He threw great. He
had good stuff."
Perez worked a one-out walk off Maddux in the fourth and scored
on Edgardo Alfonzo's RBI grounder that shortstop Rafael Furcal
threw away for an error.
Maddux allowed four runs, four hits and two walks in five
innings.
The Braves fell into a tie with St. Louis for the second-best
record in the NL at 94-65, game behind San Francisco (95-64), which
won 5-3 at Los Angeles. The Cardinals hold the tiebreaker advantage
over the Braves (4-3 in head-to-head), meaning Atlanta could be
forced to open the playoffs on the road.
"I think home field means a lot," Brian Jordan said. "That's
what we're playing for right now."
Game notes
Mets LHP Bobby M. Jones relieved his namesake in the ninth
inning. ... Maddux went 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA against the Mets this
season. ... The Mets were 0-7-1 in the series against Atlanta since
their last win, not including a loss in last year's NLCS. ...
Braves 2B Keith Lockhart dropped a routine infield popup by Alfonzo
in the seventh for a two-base error. ... The Mets drew 52,134,
their seventh sellout of the season. ... Former commissioner Fay
Vincent was in attendance.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
NY Mets Clubhouse
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