ATLANTA - GAME RECAP

August 21st - San Diego Padres 3, Atlanta Braves 1, 10 innings - Attendance 26,756

John Burkett, whose E.R.A. was the second best in the National League, got the start for Atlanta against Kevin Jarvis. After a quick and scoreless first, San Diego struck in the 2nd. Dave Magadan led off with a double and Ray Lankford singled him to third. Bubba Trammell then hit a grounder to third and Magadan showed his veteran smarts by getting in a run-down long enough to allow Lankford to get to third and Trammell to second. Ben Davis followed with a deep sacrifice fly to center and the Padres were on the board.

Jarvis pitched well through five innings, but hit a wall in the sixth, loading the bases on a double and two walks. Chuck McElroy came in and walked in the tying run, and Jarvis was no longer eligible for the win. 

The game remained 1-1 into the 10th. Steve Karsay came on for the Braves and gave up a 1-out single to Ryan Klesko. After Magadan advanced him on a ground out, Lankford was intentionally walked. Trammell then doubled into the left field corner and Klesko scored the go-ahead run. Another single plated Lankford and Trammell was thrown out trying to score on the same play. It was 3-1 Padres and time for Trevor Hoffman - 9 pitches later the game was over and the Braves failed to increase their 1-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East. This game was close and went to extras, but wasn't thrilling or memorable, so it gets a 7/10.

Rickey Henderson pinch hit in the 9th

August 22nd - Atlanta Braves 6, San Diego Padres 3 - Attendance 22,787 (lowest in Turner Field history)

A good pitching matchup as control freaks Greg Maddux and Brian Tollberg were scheduled. Although Tollberg didn't walk anyone, he did give up a lot of hits, including 3 in the first, highlighted by Chipper Jones' RBI single and Brian Jordan's 2-run home run. Maddux actually walked Ben Davis in the second inning, but escaped. But in the third, with a man on first, Ryan Klesko hammered a pitch to right field, and the Padres had closed within 1.

After that, however, Maddux retired 16 in a row while his teammates added 2 runs on homers by Jones and B.J. Surhoff. In the bottom of the eighth, Maddux got his second hit of the game, a single that scored the Braves 6th run. Maddux took the mound in the top of the ninth but promptly gave up a homer to Mark Kotsay and the Padres were back within 3. Bobby Cox had seen enough and Mike Remlinger was brought in. He quickly retired the last 3 batters for his first save of the season, and the Braves had ended a 6-game losing streak at home with a 6-3 victory.

Maddux pitches

This game was very quick (2:19) and featured some good pitching, with few rallies for either side. Most of the runs were on homers, which are always exciting. Although the Padres were never in it, this game gets a 7/10 as Maddux pitched a memorable game and Tony Gwynn made a pinch-hitting appearance.

Gwynn flew out against Maddux