Glavine Wins 300th

Monday, August 6th 2007, 7:28 am

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) _ Tom Glavine wanted to share No. 300. He came out of the dugout, got a big high-five from catcher Paul Lo Duca and then worked through an assembly line of embraces from coaches, teammates and manager Willie Randolph.

Then it was time for the ones who've meant the most, his family. He headed toward the dugout to kiss his wife, hug his kids and get congratulations from his parents.

On a monumental weekend of baseball milestones that included Barry Bonds' 755th homer and Alex Rodriguez's 500th, Glavine became the 23rd pitcher to win 300 games. And oh what a relief for the Mets' stylish left-hander and all those around him.

No more consternation for his family, no more traveling, no more waiting.

``There's no way I could express my gratitude for everything they've done to allow me to focus on my career and focus on baseball,'' Glavine said Sunday night after beating the Chicago Cubs 8-3.

``It was pretty special moment to be able to hug all those guys on Wrigley Field like I did tonight.''

And talking about special. Glavine is the latest and perhaps the last pitcher to get to 300. Randy Johnson has 284 victories, but also has serious back problems.

``I'm not saying I want to be the last one. I would love for someone to have this feeling and this sense of accomplishment,'' Glavine said after reaching 300 on his second try. ``If I was the last one, I guess it would be pretty cool to be the last one to do something in the game.''

It was vintage Glavine on a muggy night at the second oldest park in the big leagues. He mixed pitches and fooled hitters, all the things that over the years made him one of baseball's best pitchers.

Glavine (10-6) pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits, to become the first 300-game winner since former Atlanta teammate Greg Maddux reached the milestone in 2004 while with the Cubs.

``At some point in time, I don't know when, the historic side of it will sink in. I know the company I'm in, and I'm as proud as can be to be in that company,'' Glavine said

In his first try for No. 300, the 41-year-old Glavine left with a one-run lead at Milwaukee only to watch his bullpen blow it. Wife Christine Glavine, who had slumped in her seat at Miller Park, wiped tears from her eyes as Billy Wagner retired Mike Fontenot on a grounder for the final out at Wrigley Field.

Glavine was worried that if he didn't win in this start or his next, his children would have to return home for the start of school.

``I was more nervous the first time,'' Christine Glavine said. ``I felt pretty calm today. He was actually more nervous. I felt like what you're supposed to do as a wife and you just say, `You know what, go out there and you do what you've done for 20 years and who gives a damn if somebody has to fly to some other city.'''

Her face showed her nervousness when Chicago closed to 5-3 after trailing 5-0. Then the Mets pulled away.

Carlos Delgado backed Glavine with four RBIs, and Luis Castillo had four of New York's 16 hits.

``I think I put a little bit more pressure on myself tonight to go out and try to get it done. Once I got to the ballpark I seemed to calm down a little bit, but all day at the hotel I was nervous about it and uptight about it,'' he said,'' Glavine said. ``I was kind of drained once I got here. ``After the third inning I started to feel better physically and started to pitch a little bit better.''

Before a crowd of 41,599 on a muggy night, and with flashbulbs popping, Glavine allowed two runs and six hits, struck out one and walked one.

He left after Angel Pagan doubled on his 102nd pitch, getting a high five from Randolph on the mound and a standing ovation as he left the field.

Guillermo Mota came in and gave up a single to Jason Kendall, Pedro Feliciano then relieved and gave up an RBI grounder to pinch-hitter Jacque Jones. Fontenot's double made it a 5-3 game, bringing on Aaron Heilman, who retired Ryan Theirot on an inning-ending flyout.

Glavine was the third pitcher looking for his 300th win at Wrigley Field in the last five seasons. Roger Clemens (June 7, 2003) and Maddux (Aug. 1, 2004) both failed.

Glavine, won his first game with the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 22, 1987, was a five-time 20-game winner with the Braves and joined Maddux and John Smoltz to give Atlanta one of baseball's most formidable rotations for years. He captured the NL Cy Young Award in 1991 and 1998, was the MVP of the 1995 World Series and is a 10-time All-Star. He went to the Mets as a free agent after the 2002 season.

Before Glavine, no pitcher had won his 300th game in a Mets uniform although some 300-game winners have pitched with New York _ Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Warren Spahn, who won four games in 1965.

There was big news for the Cubs, too,

Kerry Wood pitched the seventh in his first major league appearance since June 6, 2006 after a long bout of shoulder problems. The crowd began chanting ``Ker-ry! Ker-ry!'' and Wood retired Lo Duca on the first pitch he threw as even more flashbulbs began going off. Wood allowed one hit in a scoreless inning.

Chicago had an early threat against Glavine in the third but instead it ended with a serious leg injury on the basepaths for Cubs star Alfonso Soriano, who could miss two weeks to a month.

Soriano singled with two outs for the Cubs' first hit and when Ryan Theriot followed with a single to center, Soriano took off for third. But Soriano pulled up lame between the bases, favoring his right leg and as he tried to hop to the bag was tagged out easily. He was helped off the field with a strained right quadriceps and left the game.

On a weekend that will be long remembered, Glavine shared the spotlight with Bonds and Rodriguez.

Bonds tied Hank Aaron on Saturday night and now heads home to San Francisco, needing one more homer to become baseball's leader. And Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach 500, showing he might someday be the one who catches and passes Bonds.

``Alex, I'm rooting for you. I'll be there for you. I'm praying for you. It's very tough,'' Bonds said.