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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
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April Homers
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13 – Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle, 1997
13 – Luis Gonzalez, Arizona, 2001
11 – Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh, 1971
11 – Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia, 1976
11 – Gary Sheffield, Florida, 1996
11 – Barry Bonds, San Francisco, 1996
11 – Vinny Castilla, Colorado, 1998
11 – Larry Walker, Colorado, 2001
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PHOENIX (AP)– Luis Gonzalez, known to every baseball fan in this city as
"Gonzo," homered twice to match the major league record with 13
April homers as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Greg Maddux and the
Atlanta Braves 13-6 Thursday night.
"It's almost embarrassing to get the attention that I get,
because I don't consider myself a home run hitter," Gonzalez said.
"I'm just doing something special right now, and you just try to
ride the wave as long as you can."
Steve Finley had five RBI with a triple and his first homer of
the season, and Damian Miller was 3-for-4 with three RBI and his
first home run. Erubiel Durazo also homered for Arizona, which won
its fourth straight.
Gonzalez, 33, broke the NL record for April homers with a solo
shot in the first, then hit a three-run homer off Damian Moss in a
five-run eighth. He matched the major league record Ken Griffey Jr.
set with Seattle in 1997.
Gonzalez, who had his third multihomer game this season and the
11th in his career, was the first batter Moss faced in the major
leagues.
Gonzalez set his career high with 31 home runs last season.
Before he hit 23 with Detroit in 1998, he had never had more than
15 in six big league seasons.
"To do something this special is just kind of beyond belief,"
Gonzalez said. "I feel like I'm walking on a cloud, but at the
same time it's a lot of fun."
The Diamondbacks improved to 6-1 on their homestand. They have
scored 31 runs in their four-game winning streak.
|  | | Greg Maddux was clearly off his game, giving up seven runs in less than six innings. |
Arizona tied a team record for homers in a game with five, the
second time the Diamondbacks have done it this season.
Finley's two-out, three-run homer off Mike Remlinger landed in
the swimming pool in right field in the sixth and gave the
Diamondbacks an 8-6 lead.
"I've been on the opposite end of some of Finley's hot
streaks," Arizona's Mark Grace said. "When Finley gets hot, he
can rival Sammy (Sosa). I can't say that anymore. I've got to say
he rivals Gonzo."
Finley, who extended his hitting streak to eight games after an
0-for-30 stretch, also hit a two-run triple off Maddux in the
second.
Robert Ellis (3-0), who spent 10 years in the minors before
moving into the starting rotation because of an injury to Brian
Anderson, walked three of his first four batters but settled down
to get the victory. He allowed six runs, eight hits and four walks
in six innings.
Maddux (2-2) allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings,
his worst outing since giving up seven runs in two innings against
the New York Mets last July 1.
"I didn't throw good. I didn't locate good. I didn't change
speeds good. I didn't do nothing good," Maddux said.
Still, Atlanta led 6-5 when Maddux left after walking
pinch-hitter David Dellucci, putting runners at first and second
with one out in the sixth. It was the first walk allowed by Maddux
in 32 1-3 innings this season.
Finley followed with the go-ahead homer on a 3-2 pitch.
Maddux had been 108-2 since the 1991 All-Star game when getting
five runs or more of support, losing twice to Colorado at Atlanta.
"It never happens," Braves manager Bobby Cox said, "but it
did tonight."
Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected by plate umpire Alfonzo
Marquez at the end of the sixth for arguing balls and strikes from
the dugout.
Atlanta scored on three sacrifice flies, a bases-loaded walk and
a bases-loaded double play. The Braves' other run came on an RBI
single by Brian Jordan with the bases loaded in the first. Rico
Brogna hit into a double play.
Game notes
Arizona SS Tony Womack, who missed a third consecutive game
because of the death of his father, is not expected to be back for
the final three games of the homestand. ... Atlanta is 2-5 on its
road trip with three to play. ... Gonzalez's homer was only the
second allowed by Maddux in his five starts. ... Arizona is 6-1
during its homestand.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 6
Tampa Bay 0
Detroit 8
Baltimore 2
Boston 2
Minnesota 0
Cleveland 6
Anaheim 5
Seattle 7
NY Yankees 3
Oakland 16
Chi. White Sox 6
Montreal 4
St. Louis 3
Milwaukee 12
NY Mets 8
Chicago Cubs 7
Colorado 2
Cincinnati 7
San Francisco 5
San Diego 11
Philadelphia 0
Arizona 13
Atlanta 6
Los Angeles 6
Pittsburgh 3
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