ESPN.com – MLB – Recap – Braves at Dodgers – 05/14/2003

Sometimes, you just get beat. Maddux allowed four runs and Kevin Brown pretty much shut down the Braves. Fred McGriff hit a two-run homer in the first, continuing a line of heroics against the Braves. Fred, we love you, but give us a break!

For the first time in a while, the Braves really didn’t mount much of a threat offensively. They had only two innings in which more than one runner reached, and only five hits, none for extra bases. But it’s Kevin Brown, who’s pitching as well as he ever has. (But the statement in the AP wrapup that Brown would have career numbers as good as Maddux if he’d stayed healthy is ridiculous. During the years Maddux was winning Cy Youngs, Brown was healthy. And a .500 pitcher.)

Maddux’s control still seems off. I wonder if the blister problem of earlier this year is stiil giving him trouble. I’ve no idea what’s wrong with Ray King, who allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk and doesn’t seem to have a clue where he’s throwing the ball.

Despite the loss, the Braves have the best record in baseball at 27-13, and lead the division by 2 over the Expos, who have won three in a row, sweeping the Giants at Pac Bell. The Phillies lost three in a row and are now five back… There’s a weird afternoon game scheduled at San Diego today, the first of four. The Padres have a mirror image record, 13-27. On the other hand, they have a rookie lefthander pitching (Roger “San” Deago) and you know about the Braves’ traditional struggles against rookie pitchers.