Diamondbacks on verge of knocking off Braves
Because of the abundance of hardware in Maddux's trophy case, the last thing anyone at Turner Field expected Saturday night was a meltdown from the most reliable pitcher of this generation.
A brain cramp and a throwing error by Maddux within the span of two batters contributed to another nightmarish inning in the field for the Braves, who are one game away from elimination in the National League Championship Series after an 11-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Maddux's problems weren't confined to his defense. Pitching on three days of rest, Maddux was roughed up for six runs and eight hits while lasting just three innings for his shortest of 29 career postseason starts.
The Braves were leading 2-0 in the third inning when three errors, including one by their sure-handed pitcher, gave the Diamondbacks the opening they needed to seize control of the series. The Diamondbacks scored four runs, two of which were unearned, and then knocked Maddux from the game with two more runs in the fourth.
Craig Counsell continued his fairytale post-season march, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and four RBI. He is 8 for 17 in the series. Luis Gonzalez added a three-run homer in the ninth, when the Diamondbacks scored four more unearned runs after shortstop Rey Sanchez's second error of the game.
Like the Braves, the Diamondbacks received an abbreviated outing from their starter, Albie Lopez. But Brian Anderson relieved in the fourth and held ground, giving up one run in 3.1 innings for the win.
The Braves had the tying run at the plate twice in the final three innings, including the bases loaded with nobody out in the eighth. But Byung-Hyun Kim allowed just one run on a double-play grounder and got a lineout to end the threat.
With a 3-1 series edge, the Diamondbacks can wrap up their first trip to the World Series tonight with a victory in Game 5. The Braves, who in 1996 rallied from a 3-1 series deficit, will ask Tom Glavine to do what Maddux couldn't - win on three days of rest.
Maddux, who hasn't won in 10 starts since Aug. 22, was 17-6 with a 2.49 ERA in 32 career starts while pitching on three days' rest. He opened with two scoreless innings, pitching out of a first-inning jam. The Braves gave him a 2-0 lead on Chipper Jones' RBI double and Andruw Jones' solo homer.
Then came the third inning, which featured an NLCS-record three errors and was reminiscent of the Braves' fifth inning implosion in Game 3 that contributed to a 5-1 loss.
The calamity began with Chipper Jones booting a grounder by Tony Womack. This mistake was?nerased when Womack was caught stealing second.
The Braves' defensive woes resurfaced when Counsell hit a routine grounder to short. Sanchez, who had three errors in 211 chances, tried to throw the ball into Ted Turner's box seats. Gonzalez then singled to right, sending Counsell to third.
That's when two balls hit back to Mad.ux changed the complexion of the game.
Reggie Sanders hit a one-hopper to the mound. Maddux ignored a double play attempt and trapped Counsell off third. But seeing that Jones wasn't on the bag, Maddux stopped and looked toward first, then back to third. The hesitation enabled Counsell to dive back safely.With the bases loaded, Steve Finley hit a line drive through the box. Maddux knocked the ball down, then scrambled and gathered it on the left side of the mound. His off-balance throw to the plate was wide, and ticked off catcher Paul Bako's glove.
Counsell was safe, and he was followed across the plate by Gonzalez with the tying run. Sanders pulled into third and Finley also moved into scoring position.
Not even a visit by pitching coach Leo Mazzone could settle Maddux. He gave up run-scoring singles to Matt Williams and Mark Grace, putting the Diamondbacks ahead for good.
A double play ended the inning for Maddux, but his problems continued in the fourth. He gave up three consecutive hits, the last being Counsell's two-out double for a 6-2 lead.
Cox could watch no more and lifted Maddux, whose previous playoff low was a 3.1-inning start in Game 4 of the 1989 NLCS when he was with the Chicago Cubs.
