Maddux Reaches 10 Wins For 20th Season

Saturday, August 25th 2007, 11:20 am

By: News On 6

Not even Cy Young accomplished what Greg Maddux has now done over the past 20 years. The 40-year-old Maddux became the first pitcher to earn 10 victories in 20 consecutive seasons, tossing seven solid innings in the San Diego Padres' 14-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Cy Young had 19 straight seasons with double-digit wins from 1891-1909. Maddux is tied with Nolan Ryan for second behind Don Sutton for most seasons with 10 wins. Sutton had 21, but not consecutively.

``I didn't know that. That's cool,'' Maddux said, shrugging off his latest accomplishment.

Milton Bradley hit a pair of three-run homers and Adrian Gonzalez also connected twice for the Padres, who moved three games ahead of the Phillies in the NL wild-card race. Josh Bard had five of the Padres' season-high 22 hits.

San Diego also gained a game on first-place Arizona in the West and are two back. Philadelphia fell to six behind the New York Mets in the East and into a tie for second with Atlanta.

In other NL games, it was: Cincinnati 5, Florida 3; New York 5, Los Angeles 2; Pittsburgh 8, Houston 3, 15 innings; Atlanta 7, St. Louis 2; Colorado 6, Washington 5; Chicago 6, Arizona 2; and San Francisco 11, Milwaukee 6.

Maddux (10-9) allowed three runs and seven hits, outpitching Jamie Moyer in a matchup of 40-something hurlers with a combined 570 wins.

Benches emptied in the fourth inning when Carlos Ruiz slid hard into Padres second baseman Marcus Giles trying to break up a double play on a grounder by Abraham Nunez. Giles got up after his late relay throw to first base and immediately got in Ruiz's face, but no punches were thrown.

Ruiz's late slide into Giles' knees cost the Phillies a run. Umpires ruled interference so Nunez was out at first and Shane Victorino returned to third base, even though he scored easily on the play.

``There's playing hard and playing dirty,'' Maddux said.

After seeing the replay, Ruiz said he understood why Giles was angry.

``It was a little high,'' Ruiz said. ``I was just thinking about breaking up the double play. I was just playing hard.''

Giles led off the next inning and Ruiz glared in his direction, but home plate umpire Wally Bell stepped between the players to ensure nothing happened. Giles singled and left the game later in the inning with a right hip pointer.

With two outs, Bradley broke his bat and still homered to left to give the Padres a 5-3 lead. Gonzalez followed with a drive to straightaway center for his third homer in four at-bats and 23rd this season. Gonzalez hit a solo shot in the 10th inning to give San Diego a 9-8 win over the New York Mets on Thursday night.

A fielding error on third baseman Nunez kept the inning going and Bard added a two-run double to make it 8-3.

Moyer (11-10) gave up eight runs _ six earned _ and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings. The 44-year-old left-hander has allowed 13 earned runs in his last two starts, raising his ERA from 4.68 to 5.16.

The injury-depleted Phillies have lost three of four to start an important 10-game homestand.

``It was a good game for four innings and then it got ugly,'' Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Bradley went deep off Jose Mesa in the ninth to make it 13-3.

``In San Diego, all they talk about is how bad an offensive team we are,'' Bradley said. ``Now it's time for the offense to step it up.''

Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 2

At Phoenix, Sean Marshall (7-6) gave up one run in six innings, Jacque Jones had four hits and Chicago increased its lead to 1 1/2 games over Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Micah Owings (6-7) took the loss, but homered, his fourth of the year and third in five at-bats. Arizona's lead in the NL West shrunk to two games over San Diego.

Mets 5, Dodgers 2

At New York, Oliver Perez (12-8) outpitched Los Angeles Dodgers ace Brad Penny (14-4), and New York got a dazzling all-around performance from David Wright.

Perez tossed seven shutout innings, and Wright homered, drove in two runs and made a pair of outstanding defensive plays at third base.

Giants 11, Brewers 6

At San Francisco, Barry Bonds hit his 761st home run and pitcher Noah Lowry had three RBIs to help beat slumping Milwaukee.

Lowry (14-7) gave up season-highs in runs (six) and hits (12) but still managed to improve his August record to 12-0 in 20 career starts.

Rockies 6, Nationals 5

At Denver, Matt Holliday sparked a five-run, ninth-inning rally against Nationals closer Chad Cordero (2-3).

The Rockies avoided falling back to .500 for what would have been the first time since July 26 and stayed 4 1/2 games behind San Diego in the wild card.

Braves 7, Cardinals 2

At St. Louis, John Smoltz (12-6) worked eight innings for the second straight start and Mark Teixeira drove in his 29th run in 22 games with the Atlanta Braves.

Reds 5, Marlins 3

At Cincinnati, Aaron Harang (13-3) won for the third time in four August starts and Cincinnati tied a season high with its fourth straight victory.

Dontrelle Willis (8-13), who had nine consecutive losing decisions before beating Arizona 14-5 on Aug. 14, allowed eight hits and five runs with no walks and three strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings.

Pirates 8, Astros 3

At Houston, Adam LaRoche's three-run homer triggered a five-run 15th inning and Pittsburgh moved percentage points ahead of Houston, out of last place in the NL Central.