#211---LA @ ATL, 8/23/1998

 

It seems like every time I stumble across a Greg Maddux scoresheet, it’s of a less-than-sterling outing. Since Maddux was one of my two pitching idols (along with Mike Mussina), this is unfortunate, but this was a fun slugfest. The Braves got a pair of two-run homers in the first from Andres Galarraga and Maddux’s personal catcher, Eddie Perez. (Inexplicably, I failed to note Andruw Jones scoring on the latter; confusingly, I also didn’t distinguish between the Joneses, assuming that the positions would make it obvious which was which. Later I would transition to putting a first initial in front of the player I deemed less worth, which would be a harder determination in the case of two stars such as the Joneses. Now I try to remember a first initial in front of a last name if two players with that surname have appeared on a roster at any point during a season, although I’m not fanatic about doing so when one is a hitter and the other a pitcher).

The Dodgers answered right back with solo homers to lead off the second from Gary Sheffield and Eric Karros, then loading the bases with nobody out before Maddux got two Ks and a sac fly to escape with the lead. Atlanta got one back in the second, with Maddux drawing a walk to chip in, but LA went up 6-5 when Raul Mondesi and Sheffield reached to start the third and Karros launched another homer. The Braves tied it when Andruw Jones singled, walked, and scored on a double play.

A leadoff walk to Maddux in the fourth started a three-run Atlanta rally. Sheffield and Karros both led off the fifth with doubles, but Maddux escaped without further damage, his team up 9-7 and his day over (he did fan seven against two free passes). The Braves bullpen shut out the Dodgers for four innings, and Atlanta added three runs of their own, including a homer from Andruw. 12-7 final with some big offensive games:

Sheffield (2-3, 2 W, D, HR, 3 R, 1 RBI)

Karros (3-5, D, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI)

Andruw Jones (4-5, HR, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI)