Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page 16

FIRST EDITION ES4 BEST AVAILABLE COPY C14 ARIZONA DAILY STAR Sunday, October 21, 2001 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES DIAG90HDBAGQS HI, MM A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF GAME 4 NLCS NOTEBOOK Big Unit ready for Braves you can go out there I could throw the exact same pitches that I did the first night, and if I don't execute them and hit the locations "It's no big deal," said Braves manager Bobby Cox, who has decided so far to go with the three-man rotation of Greg Maddux, Glavine and John Burkett, 0 "A 1 i -1 i 'y' i V' I A I that I need to hit, then that might be the difference in the ballgame." Johnson will be opposed by Atlanta's Tom Glavlne, the Game 2 winner. The matchup between two of the game's most dominant lefty pitchers doesn't faze Glavine. "It's probably extra in leaving out No. 4 starter Kevin Millwood. Cox said he had given some thought to using Millwood in Game 5.

He said Millwood still could be used later in the series as a starter or out of the bullpen. The righthander pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Fri shoulder earlier in the season. "We've got three pitchers who pitched great all year," he said. "It's hard not to use those guys. There's really not a whole lot to be disappointed about" Other stuff I With their win Friday night, the Diamondbacks have won four straight at Turner Field in 2001.

Arizona swept a three-game series in Atlanta on Aug. 10-12 en route to winning the regular-season series 5-2. In going 4-0, the Diamondbacks have outscored the Braves 24-3. Before this season, Arizona was 3-9 at Turner Field. I In the first three NLCS games, the Braves are batting .156 (15 for 96).

Against Arizona's three starters Johnson, Schilling and Miguel Batista, Atlanta is an even more anemic .107 (9 for 84). WIRE REPORTS ATLANTA If Randy Johnson's last outing against Atlanta is any indication, the Big Unit won't be doing much tinkering when he faces the Braves today in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Johnson is coming off a career-best postseason performance, a three-hitter in which he struck out 11 in a 2-0 win. He also ended a seven-game losing streak in the playoffs. Does the 6-foot-10-inch left-hander need to make any adjustments in facing a team for the second time in less than a week? "Well, if I knew I was going to pitch like I did in Arizona, I wouldn't make any," Johnson said Saturday night before Game 4.

"I probably won't make any until they've made some," he said. "But Bob Brenly day night's 5-1 loss. Millwood, who was left off the division series roster when Cox decided to go with 10 pitchers, said he was not disappointed with the decision. Millwood (7-7) finished strong after spending 2'A months on the disabled list with a sore right centive because of the situation we're going to be in," he said. "It's going to be a big game one way or another." Glavine, who allowed six hits and one run in seven innings in Atlanta's 8-1 Game 2 win, will be going on three days' rest.

The Associated Press Randy Johnson is coming off a career-best postseason performance, a three-hitter in which he struck out 11. HISTORY ON D'BACKS' SIDE Brenly has his veterans 1 win away from Series MADDUX'S SHAKY OUTING Befuddled Braves ace suffers loss toD'backs ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA It was another ugly night for Greg Maddux, whose latest performance turned out to be the quickest exit ever in the postseason for the four-time NL Cy Young winner. Maddux lasted only three-plus innings and the 11-time Gold Glove winner contributed one of Atlanta's NL championship series record three errors in a four-run Arizona third inning Saturday night as the Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 11-4. Arizona leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can clinch its first World Series appearance with a win today. Maddux allowed eight hits and six The Associated Press Braves pitcher Greg Maddux fires errantly to home plate as he tries to throw out Craig Counsell in the third inning.

ATLANTA Only three times in National or American League Championship Series history have teams overcome such deficits. The last team to do it was Atlanta in 1996 against St. Louis. No doubt, Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly will remind Arizona of that fact. NL newcomers in just their fourth year of existence, the Diamondbacks are nonetheless loaded with experience on the field with everyday players such as Matt Williams, Mark Grace and Luis Gonzalez.

It's in the dugout where their rookie manager has put on such an impressive performance. Brenly, who came out of the broadcast booth to take over after Buck Showalter was fired, is seeking to become the first manager to lead a team to the World Series in his first season since Jim Frey with Kansas City in 1980. The last NL manager to do it was Sparky Anderson with Cincinnati in 1970. Brenly helped shout the Diamondbacks toward victory on Saturday night. When Gonzalez launched a three-run homer in the ninth inning, Brenly yelled from the dugout: "Go ball, go ball, get up, get up." Before Game 5, Brenly made it clear that he'd thought from the start that his Diamondbacks had a chance to do it.

"Looking at this team and looking at the history of the individual players and seeing how they all meshed together, this is what we've been drilling into our ballclub since the first day of spring training we have a team that's capable of getting to the big dance," he said. "The guys who cover us all year know we're one of the most boring teams in baseball," he said. "We show up every day and keep grinding. That's been my experience in this game, usually that's the best attitude, the best approach to take." Boring? OK, maybe. But on the brink of the World Series? Certainly.

runs iour earned, ne rignt-nanaer was through after giving up three consecutive hits in the fourth, leaving after a two-run double by Craig Coun-sell made it 6-2. His worst postseason performance before Saturday was in the 1989 NLCS when he was with the Chicago Cubs. He went 3'3 innings against the San Francisco Giants, allowing five hits and four runs three earned but got a no-decision in a 6-4 loss. Maddux, who gave up six hits and two runs in seven innings in a 2-0 loss in Game 1, fell to 4-8 in the NLCS and 10-13 overall in the postseason. He's 04 with two no-decisions in his last six postseason starts, allowing 17 runs in 34 innings, a 4.50 ERA.

His last playoff win was in Game 1 of the 1999 NLCS against the New York Mets. In his only start against Houston in the division series, Maddux was not involved in the decision in a 7-4 win in the opening game. He gave up four hits and three runs two earned in six innings. Braves committed a NL Championship Series record three errors in the third inning with Maddux playing a major role. Atlanta's undoing started when Counsell reached on a one-out error by shortstop Rey Sanchez.

Luis Gonzalez singled Counsell to third. Then came the play that could have gotten Maddux and the Braves out of the jam. Reggie Sanders hit a bouncer to the mound. Counsell broke from third and appeared to be an easy out if Maddux threw to third. Maddux looked at him, then whirled toward first, but it was too late to throw, load ing the bases.

Maddux also had the option of throwing to second for double play, but never looked there. Steve Finley followed with a bouncer that glanced off Maddux's glove, and when the Braves pitcher threw wildly to the plate, Counsell and Gonzalez scored to tie it at 2. Finley was given a hit and RBI, and Maddux earned an error for allowing Gonzalez to score. Matt Williams followed with a single to left, scoring Sanders. Grace lined an RBI single to left, scoring Finley for a 4-2 Arizona lead.

His late season performance hasn't been much better. Maddux, 17-11 with a 3.05 ERA, hasn't won since Aug, 22 when he beat San Diego. Since then, he's 0-6 in 10 starts, the longest win-less streak of his career. Maddux hasn't had much luck against Arizona, either. He's 1-4 with a 4.61 ERA in six games during the regular season, 0-2 record this year.

The Braves fell apart in the field for the second consecutive night. In Friday night's 5-1 loss, Atlanta's fielding lapses led to three tainted runs in the fifth inning. Leading 2-0 Saturday night, the SO 0 0 200 P'BACKS Continued from Page Cl in one inning, which included an errant throw by Maddux and a mental gaffe by the four-time Cy Young winner that was even more shocking. Maddux was knocked out in the fourth. front of the Braves dugout for their second straight error.

Counsell sprinted to third on Gonzalez's single, then things really got interesting. Reggie Sanders hit a grounder back to the mound. Maddux snared it, but instead of wheeling around to start a double play, he appeared distracted by the sight of Counsell caught off third. 1 444 0 .200 1 143 1 308 0 .000 333 Womackss Counsel! 2b LGouatotf RSandefsrt SFmWyd BKimp Mams MEGrace lb OMllWC ALopezp Dellucaph BJAndersonp Cummmgs pit Baubstscf Toms .357 143 000 500 .000 000 SO ftrg. 1 0 .188 0 0 222 0 1 .313 0 1 1'6 Arizona started the inning with three straight hits, the last a two-run double by Counsell, Arizona's 'Mr.

October. He finished with four RBIs. Pitching on three days' rest for the first time this season, the 35-year-old Maddux lasted just three innings his shortest start in 29 postseason appearances Brian Anderson picked up the Maddux hesitated, waiting for Jones to cover the bag. Even when he got to third, Maddux didn't throw. Then he looked to first too late to get Sanders.

By that time, Counsell was sliding back into third. With the bases loaded, Steve Finley hit a liner up the middle. Maddux got a glove on the ball, scrambled off the mound to re- Franco lb Clones 3b BJonlen ff Surtrtllt AJonesct RSancneza Bafcoc Gifceyph Deflosaph DMarbnez pb Maddux JLopezph-c Totatt 250 .231 .231 .000 000 000 .250 .333 200 GAME REPORT KEY PLAY Two Braves errors in the third inning helped put runners at first and third for the Diamondbacks. Greg Maddux snared a grounder by Reggie Sanders but appeared distracted by Craig Counsell at third and failed to throw anyone out. With the bases loaded, Steve Finley hit a liner to Maddux, who knocked it down and threw wildly to home, allowing the Diamondbacks' first two runs to score.

THUMBS UP Arizona has a 3-1 lead with its ace, Randy Johnson, rested and ready to go today. Luis Gonzalez finished off the Braves with a three-run homer in the ninth. Brian Anderson pitched 3V3 innings of four-hit ball to earn the victory. Byung-Hyun Kim escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and earned his first save of the series. THUMBS DOWN Arizona starter Albie Lopez, who had dominated the Braves during the regular season, lasted only three innings.

He went 2-0 against the Braves during the regular season, giving up just one run in 14 innings. The last team to rebound from a 3-1 playoff deficit was the Braves, who outscored the St. Louis Cardinals 32-1 to win the final three games of the 1996 NLCS. The attendance, for a Saturday night game, was 42.291, about 8.000 short of a sellout. LINE OF THE DAY Counsell 6 2 3 4, 2B Brian Anderson 004 200 01411 12 0 110 000 110 4 13 4 win, giving up one run 3'j in- nings.

Byung-Hyun Kim escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and lv Clones (1). flSanctwz 2 (21 Maddux (11 LOB Anana 12 Manta9 2B Wtmatf 111. Counsel 2 (31 CJonesdl, flSancnezll) Maddux (1) Hfl IGonzalez (11 oil Marotas; AJonesllloftALopez Rffls Counsell 4 (41. LGonzalez 3 (4. Sfinwy (4) MtWrihams (21 MEGrace (1 1.

Clones (2). BJordan (3) AJonesill CS Vfornack (11 GBP Owner 2. MGeas. JLocn imam II I S0 NT EW ALopez 3 5 2 2 1 1 53 00 Anderson W.I -0 It I I 1 1 "0 49 2 70 Morgan 1 0 0 0 1 27 00 SomMt 0 0 0 0 0 4 2700 MSabsta 0 1 1 1 0 0 9 514 BKimSI 2 0 0 0 0 0 15 000 AtMl I EH B8 SO IT ERA trieve it and made an off-balance throw to the plate. But the ball sailed past catcher Paul Bako, allowing two runs to score.

Pitching coach Leo Mazzone was so stunned by Maddux's miscues that he went to the mound with a towel. It didn't help. Matt Williams and Mark Grace followed with consecutive RBI singles to give the Diamondbacks a 4-2 lead. Arizona starter Albie Lopez, who dominated the Braves during the regular season, lasted only three innings. He gave up an RBI double to Chipper Jones in the first and a 422-foot homer to Andruw Jones in the second.

earned his first save of the series. For the second night in a row, the Braves were undone by basic fundamentals. Chipper Jones got the follies started by bobbling Tony Womack's chopper to third. While that error didn't hurt the Braves Womack was thrown out trying to steal second the tone was set. Counsell followed with a routine grounder to Sanchez, a slick-fielding shortstop acquired by the Braves just before the trade deadline.

He sidearmed the throw to first and watched it sail off the screen in 3 8 6 4 0 2 65 5 40 1 0 20 000 Maddux 1.0-2 Rerrttfirjer Ugtenfterg Seanez Karsav 2 0 1 0 1 1 25 000 2 1 20 0 00 1 3 28 386 2 2 33 000 1 1 2 2 0 Manua The Associated Press The Diamondbacks' Craig Counsell doubles in a run in the eighth inning. Counsell was 3-for-6 with four RBI in Arizona's 11-4 victory. H3B HBP bx Maddux (LGowalezt Karsay PB Bako 3:47 A 42 291 (49 714)..