Greg Maddux calmly overcame a shaky start to become the 22nd major league pitcher to reach 300 victories, leading the Chicago Cubs over the San Francisco Giants 8-4 on Saturday.
He's the first National Leaguer to accomplish the feat since Philadelphia's Steve Carlton in 1983. Roger Clemens was the last to do it on his fourth attempt for the New York Yankees on June 13 last season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Maddux (11-7) needed just two tries, after getting a no-decision in his first chance last Sunday against Philadelphia. He left in the sixth with a 6-3 lead, no outs and two runners on.
Jon Leicester and Kent Mercker escaped the jam with Chicago ahead 6-4. Mercker retired Ray Durham on a popup to end the inning. Kyle Farnsworth got Dustan Mohr to ground out with the bases loaded in the eighth, and LaTroy Hawkins secured the win with a scoreless ninth.
The 38-year-old right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in five-plus innings, striking out three and walking three. Maddux won his fourth straight decision and improved his career record to 300-170.
Corey Patterson and Moises Alou homered to back the milestone victory.
Brad Hennessey, who was 6 when Maddux broke into the bigs in September 1986, allowed four earned runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings in his major league debut.
Maddux never returned to the field after the final out was made. Fans hollered as he worked his way down the hallway to a postgame interview, and Maddux practically pursed his lips to keep from reacting. It took a near mugging by a bunch of teammates at his locker to finally make him smile.
"It's pretty special," he said. "I like to look ahead. I've never really looked back. When I'm done playing I'll look back. I'm sure I'll pat myself on the back then."
Maddux relied on guts, guile and his bullpen to win his 300th game because he never quite found the pinpoint control that has so defined his stellar career.
"Obviously, to win 300 games, you've got to have a lot of help. I've played on a lot of good teams, and a lot of times, you're only as good as the guys behind you. Today was a good example," Maddux said.
Cardinals 2, Mets 1
In St. Louis, rookie Yadier Molina, batting with the bases loaded after an intentional walk to Larry Walker, blooped a single to center with two outs in the ninth to lead the Cardinals.
Walker, acquired in a trade with Colorado on Friday night, was welcomed with a standing ovation that lasted well over a minute when he pinch-hit with two on and one out in the seventh. A near-sellout crowd of 45,364 stayed on its feet throughout the at-bat and gave him another ovation even after he struck out against Kris Benson.
Walker soon participated in the winning rally. The fans booed when the five-time All-Star was walked intentionally by Mike Stanton (0-5) with runners on second and third and two outs in the ninth. Molina followed by dumping a soft single into shallow left-center.
Julian Tavarez (4-3) got the win for the Cardinals, who have won 15 of 19 and have the best record in the majors at 71-38.
Braves 6, Diamondbacks 2
In Phoenix, Paul Byrd won consecutive starts for the first time in nearly two years, allowing two runs in 7 1-3 innings -- his longest outing of the season.
Chipper Jones backed Byrd with two RBIs and Rafael Furcal had an RBI double for the Braves, who won for the ninth time in 10 games and improved to 17-5 since the All-Star break.
Byrd (4-3), who missed last season with elbow problems, allowed five hits and no walks in his best performance since working seven scoreless in a 4-0 win over Cleveland on June 19. That was his first appearance since having ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow on July 1, 2003.
Quinton McCracken had a leadoff home run and a sacrifice fly for the Diamondbacks, who skidded to their 22nd loss in 26 games. The defeat left Arizona (35-77) a franchise-record 42 games below .500.
Edgar Gonzalez (0-5) lost his sixth in a row since winning his major league debut last year.
Marlins 5, Brewers 0
In Miami, Jeff Conine hit a grand slam and Ismael Valdez pitched six shutout innings to win his debut with Florida.
Valdez (10-6), acquired a week ago in a trade with San Diego, allowed two hits and walked three. The outing was the longest in his past eight starts, and he reached double figures in victories for the first time since 1998.
The right-hander improved to 3-0 with an ERA of 0.86 against the Brewers this year.
Rudy Seanez, Billy Koch and Nate Bump allowed one hit over the last three innings to compete the three-hitter.
Conine put Florida ahead 4-0 in the first inning against Wes Obermueller (3-6), who was recalled Friday from minor league triple-A Indianapolis and retired three batters.
Expos 8, Astros 3
In Houston, Jon Rauch won his first start for the Expos, and Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run homer to help snap Montreal's three-game losing streak.
Rauch (1-0), acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a trade for Carl Everett, was called up from the minor leagues Friday night. He allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings, while striking out four and walking one.
Andy Pettitte got a no-decision in his first start for the Astros since July 26, when he left with a sore left elbow. He missed one start and decided to pitch despite continued elbow pain. Pettitte gave up two runs, both earned, on six hits in five innings.
Montreal scored four times in the seventh inning to erase a 3-2 deficit. Jose Vidro put the Expos ahead for good with a two-run single.
David Weathers (6-6) allowed two runs and one hit in one inning in the loss.
Rockies 9, Reds 5
In Denver, Jeromy Burnitz and Preston Wilson hit consecutive homers in the second, and the Rockies scored five in the sixth inning to defeat Cincinnati.
With the score tied at 3, the Rockies sent 10 hitters to the plate in the sixth and took an 8-3 lead. Todd Greene had an RBI single and rookie Jorge Piedra, who replaced All-Star outfielder Larry Walker, drove in two runs with his first major league hit.
John Vander Wal hit a two-run homer, and Adam Dunn and Felipe Lopez each added a solo shot for the Reds. It was Dunn's fourth homer in four games.
Paul Wilson (9-3) gave up seven runs and 12 hits. He is winless in five starts.
Allan Simpson (1-1) escaped a jam in the sixth for his first major league win. Rockies starter Aaron Cook left in the third inning because he felt lightheaded and dizzy.
Dodgers 6, Phillies 3
In Los Angeles, Odalis Perez pitched seven scoreless innings to snap the Phillies' four-game winning streak.
Shawn Green homered for Los Angeles, which ended a string of seven straight losses to Philadelphia. The Dodgers have won 25 of their last 32 games.
Perez (5-4) won for the first time in seven starts, a stretch that included five no-decisions. He allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two.
The Phillies tried to make a game of it in the ninth. Jim Thome hit his 33rd homer off Darren Dreifort to lead off the inning. Two outs later, Chase Utley hit a pinch-hit homer off Dreifort to make it 6-3.
After Marlon Byrd singled, Eric Gagne came in and got Lou Collier to foul out to first base for his 33rd save in 34 chances.
Paul Abbott (1-6) allowed four runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings.
Pirates 3, Padres 1
In San Diego, Kip Wells allowed four hits in 8 1-3 innings for his first win since July 5.
Wells (5-6) gave up a hit and a walk in the ninth inning to fall two outs short of his first complete game since Sept. 7, 2003, but did help end the Pirates' five-game skid. The right-hander had five strikeouts and walked two. Jose Mesa finished for his 31st save in 33 chances.
Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez won his fourth straight decision in a remarkable comeback, and the New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-0 on Saturday.
El Duque (4-0), who had rotator cuff surgery last year and was released by Montreal in December, allowed five hits in eight sharp innings. He struck out six and walked two, pitching the Yankees (70-39) to their fourth victory in a row.
In three outings against Toronto, Hernandez has not allowed a run in 17 innings.
Scott Proctor finished the six-hitter, New York's third shutout of the season. Toronto was blanked for the ninth time.
Ted Lilly (8-8) allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings.
Twins 4, Athletics 3
In Minneapolis, Johan Santana struck out 10 again for Minnesota, outpitching Tim Hudson in a marquee matchup.
Santana (11-6) won his fourth straight decision and reached double digits in strikeouts for the eighth time in his last 10 starts, increasing his AL-leading total to 183. Torii Hunter scored twice and drove in another run for the Twins, who have won 14 of 18.
Hudson (7-4) pitched well in his return to the mound for Oakland, which lost for just the fourth time in 14 games.
Activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, the right-hander allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked one in his first outing since June 22, when he strained his left oblique muscle.
Orioles 3, Rangers 1
In Baltimore, Rodrigo Lopez turned in a solid pitching performance, and the Orioles beat former teammate Scott Erickson and the Texas Rangers for their fifth straight win.
Lopez (9-7) allowed only two hits, walked none and struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings. He faced only one batter over the minimum and retired his first 10 hitters, six by strikeouts.
B.J. Ryan gave up one hit in 1 1-3 innings, and Jorge Julio worked the ninth for his 18th save in 20 chances. He gave up a home run to Alfonso Soriano with one out.
Erickson (0-1) yielded three runs and 10 hits over 5 2-3 innings in his debut with Texas. The right-hander, obtained in a trade with the New York Mets last week, was with the Orioles from 1995 through last season.
Mariners 5, Devil Rays 2
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Ron Villone allowed two runs in six-plus innings and Miguel Olivo hit a three-run homer, leading Seattle over Tampa Bay.
Mariners manager Bob Melvin was ejected while exchanging lineup cards before the game. He argued with crew chief Joe West, one night after Seattle lost on a disputed obstruction call in the 10th inning.
Villone (4-2) gave up four hits for Seattle, which is 3-10 on a 14-game road trip. Two of the wins have come in the past three games against Tampa Bay.
J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his first career save.
Aubrey Huff hit his 20th homer of the season for the Devil Rays. Mark Hendrickson (8-10) gave up five runs and 11 hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Red Sox 7, Tigers 4
In Detroit, Pedro Martinez struck out 11 for the second straight start and David Ortiz drove in two runs in his first game since serving a five-game suspension for the Red Sox.
It was Martinez's 69th game with 10 or more strikeouts with Boston, breaking the team record he shared with Roger Clemens. He allowed two runs -- one earned -- and five singles in seven innings.
Martinez (12-4) struck out the first five he faced, and seven through three innings, in helping the Red Sox end a two-game losing streak. He improved to 5-0 in nine career starts against the Tigers.
Jeremy Bonderman (6-9) dropped to 0-3 in his last five starts, allowing three runs on four hits in five innings. The loss was Detroit's fifth in six games.
Indians 6, White Sox 5
In Chicago, Matt Lawton hit a three-run homer off Shingo Takatsu in the ninth inning to vault the Indians into second place in the AL Central.
Takatsu (4-3) blew his first save of the season, allowing singles by Coco Crisp and Grady Sizemore before Lawton's go-ahead shot.
Roberto Alomar and Juan Uribe homered in a five-run sixth to give Chicago a 5-3 lead.
The Indians won for the 11th time in 16 games, while the stunned White Sox lost for the 11th time in 13 games.
Matt Miller (4-1) got the win with a scoreless eighth. Bob Wickman then pitched for his fourth save.
Angels 7, Royals 5
In Kansas City, Missouri, Bartolo Colon won his sixth straight start and Darin Erstad drove in three runs to lead Anaheim.
Colon (11-8) gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out seven for the Angels, who have won six of their last eight to move within 1 1/2 games of first-place Oakland and a half-game of second-place Texas in the AL West.
Troy Percival pitched out of a jam in the ninth for his 20th save in 25 chances, making him the sixth pitcher with nine straight seasons of 20 or more saves.
Erstad was 2-for-4, including a two-run double in the seventh.
Dennys Reyes (3-5) walked three and allowed three runs in 1 2-3 innings in the loss.
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