Greg Maddux will have to wait yet again until his next start to get career victory No. 350.
Last Friday, in Maddux's first bid at the milestone win, the veteran right-hander gave up nine runs in seven innings--including six in the first inning alone--in San Diego's 9-0 loss in Arizona one night following the Padres' 22-inning affair with Colorado.
On Wednesday, Maddux seemed destined to win his second 1-0 decision this season, as he left after seven shutout innings leading by a run against Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.
For the Giants' Cain, it was more of the same: No run support. Cain had gone 7-16 last season despite a respectable 3.65 ERA for San Francisco.
And despite Cain's third strong start this season, he is still winless.
However, Cain didn't fall to 0-3, and Maddux didn't get his 350th win, all thanks to Trevor Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader.
Hoffman has been anything but lights out ever since blowing two games at the end of the 2007 season which cost the Padres a post-season berth, and had an 8.10 ERA heading into Wednesday's action.
This time, Giants catcher Bengie Molina took Hoffman deep with one out in the ninth, and there went Cain's loss, and more significantly, Maddux's milestone.
It was Hoffman's second blown save in six opportunities this year.
As for the rest of the game, the Giants scored twice in the unlucky 13th inning, and hung on to beat the Padres 3-2.
Not only did the Padres miss out on witnessing history, they also fell to a last-place tie with the Giants in the NL West.
Both teams are 9-13, already 6 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona.
Maddux will have to wait until next week for another shot at No. 350; ditto Cain for his first win of the year.
Ironically, each pitcher allowed nine runs in his previous start before rebounding nicely on Wednesday.
Maddux allowed four hits in his seven innings of work, walking none and striking out five.
Cain struck out seven and walked three, allowing five hits in seven innings.
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5 months ago
Maddux is such class. Last outing, he got shelled and still stayed in to give the Padres' overworked bullpen some rest. He knew his ERA would jump, but he let this oh so important pitching stat increase for the good of his team. He didn't rip his teammates or his manager.
Last night, he pitched brilliantly- like Greg Maddux typically does. Five strike outs, 4 scattered hits and (as usual) no walks over 7 innings. He not only pitched great, he also walked and got a hit to move a runner over! Then, his bullpen gives up win #350. No anger, no trashing Hoffman, no finger pointing and no complaining. When asked about the game, Maddux replied, "We are going through a tough stretch..." Note he said WE, and not "I am going through a tough time" or "the offense is struggling" or "our bullpen is not getting the job done".
Being the professional he is, Maddux addresses success and failure on a team level. No personal showboating or grandstanding martyr references. Nope. Not for Greg Maddux. Now, I presume he will quietly resolves to make good pitches, locate well and change speeds to help his team win next time; he'll take BP and run drills to field his position. After all, he is Greg Maddux- baseball player, pitcher, team player...and consummate professional.
Abner
from 5 months ago
You're absolutely right about Maddux - the ultimate team player... it is refreshing to see such an unassuming athlete in the day of the big egos in sports.
Thanks Abner, for the read.
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