ATLANTA - A sure sign this isn't the same ol' Atlanta pitching staff: The Braves gave up 24 hits - and it wasn't even a season high.
The San Diego Padres pounded Greg Maddux for 13 hits and went on to tie the franchise record in a 14-4 rout of the Braves on Tuesday night.
While the Padres equaled their 24-hit performance against San Francisco in 1982, the Braves didn't even match their worst performance of the season. They gave up 25 hits in a 20-1 loss at Florida on July 1.
``We haven't had a game like that all year,'' said San Diego manager Bruce Bochy, whose team obliterated its previous season high of 16 hits. ``It's nice to see these bats come to life. We really have been struggling scoring runs.''
San Diego has the second-fewest runs in the National League, but the Braves' pitching staff hasn't been itself this season. They rank ninth in the NL with a 4.26 ERA, on pace to break a streak of finishing no worse than second for 11 straight seasons.
The NL East-leading Braves matched a season high with their third straight loss, and this one was downright ugly. The Padres outhit Atlanta 24-7, and the Braves chipped in with five walks, two errors, a hit batter and a passed ball.
``One of those nights,'' Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. ``Everything they hit found a hole and we just didn't pitch very good.''
Maddux (11-9), who had won five straight decisions, gave up six hits in the first inning, his team trailing 3-0 before it even came to bat. He was mercifully lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fifth, trailing 5-1 but probably keeping him from reaching an inglorious mark.
The four-time Cy Young Award winner gave up a career-high 14 hits during a 1999 start against the Chicago Cubs. This was the third time Maddux surrendered 13 hits in a game.
``Sometimes you get hit,'' Maddux said. ``You've got to tip your cap.''
The Padres were swinging right away, continuing a trend against Maddux. When he gets beat, it's usually on pitches early in the count. San Diego's first three hitters each connected with the first pitch, leading to two singles and RBI groundout.
``Them and everyone else in the league,'' said Maddux, whose ERA is an uncharacteristic 4.38. ``They're not the only ones doing it.''
Adam Eaton (7-8) was the beneficiary. The Padres starter was taken out after the first three hitters in the sixth reached base, but that was long enough to win for the fifth time in his last six decisions.
The Padres poured it on with seven runs in the ninth off struggling reliever Roberto Hernandez, including a homer by Gary Matthews Jr. While only two of the runs were earned because of an error by Rafael Furcal, it was another dismal outing for Hernandez.
``It's very baffling,'' said Hernandez, who was booed as he left the mound. ``This is not me at all.''
Every San Diego starter except Eaton had at least one hit. Rondell White had four hits and three RBIs. Mark Loretta, Phil Nevin and Gary Bennett - the latter batting .199 each had three hits and two RBIs.
Chipper Jones was one of the few bright spots for the Braves. He homered in the fourth, drove in another run with a triple in the sixth and doubled in his final at-bat, missing out on the easiest part of the cycle, a single.
Jones apparently benefited from a visit by his dad, Larry Jones, who works with his son when things aren't going well. Chipper was coming off a 2-for-19 road trip.
NOTES: The Braves have lost three in a row for the first time since getting swept by Montreal to start the season. ... Atlanta unveiled a statue honoring Warren Spahn in the plaza outside Turner Field. The bronze monument captures the famous high leg kick that carried Spahn to 363 career wins, the most of any left-hander in baseball history. The 82-year-old Hall of Famer, now confined to a wheelchair, traveled from Broken Arrow, Okla., to attend the dedication. ... Padres 3B Sean Burroughs was plunked on the right ankle with a pitch from Jason Marquis in the seventh inning. In obvious pain, Burroughs managed to make it to first but was replaced in the bottom half by Lou Merloni.
Monday
March 24th, 2025
12:19AM
