|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
PHOENIX (AP) – During Atlanta's trip to Arizona, John Burkett
looked more like Greg Maddux than Maddux did.
|  | | John Burkett had his stuff Friday, holding the D-Backs to just three hits in his first complete game in 97 starts. |
One night after Arizona pounded Maddux in his worst performance
since last July, Burkett cooled off the Diamondbacks with a
three-hitter, 9-0 Friday night. It was his first complete game in
97 starts and his first shutout in five years.
"That's why this game is kind of funny," Arizona's Luis
Gonzalez said. "We beat Cy Young yesterday and tonight a guy
throwing 82 or 85 mph had a no-hitter going into the sixth
inning."
The 36-year-old right-hander hadn't thrown a complete game since
July 2, 1997, for Texas against Colorado and hadn't had a shutout
since Aug. 11, 1996, for Texas at Toronto.
"My first game in the American League," Burkett said,
recalling his last shutout. "I got traded from Florida to Texas
and shut out Toronto in my first game, so I've been well-rested."
Chipper Jones had his first career five-hit game, with a home
run, double and three singles. He'd had 14 four-hit games.
"It was just a fun night," Jones said. "I hit a couple of
balls that could have been caught, a ball that had eyes. That's how
you get four or five hits in a night. You've got to be a little bit
lucky."
Andruw Jones and B.J. Surhoff hit home runs off Armando Reynoso
in Atlanta's five-run second inning.
Quilvio Veras hit his first home run in nearly a year, off
reliever Erik Sabel in the eight.
Burkett (1-3) threw 5 1-3 hitless innings before pinch-hitter
Danny Bautista singled to right in the sixth. Matt Williams doubled
with one out in the seventh for Arizona, his 300th career double.
David Dellucci singled to lead off the eighth for the third hit.
"It was just a phenomenal performance tonight for him,"
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "He's got good stuff. He's like
Maddux, his fastball looks a lot faster than those numbers you look
at on the boards and the ray guns."
The Diamondbacks had won four in a row and scored 41 runs in the
process. They only got one runner to third base against Burkett.
"After we scored the runs, I just kept telling myself to keep
concentrating because their lineup is so dangerous, and they had a
lot of guys who are hot," Burkett said. "I didn't want to let
them back in the game."
Burkett struck out five, walked one and hit a batter. He
repeatedly got the Diamondbacks to either fly out or ground out.
"He had outstanding control," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said.
"He changed speeds. I saw a couple of breaking balls in the
mid-60s. He kept the ball out of the middle of the plate. I don't
think we had more than on or two mistake pitches to swing at
tonight."
The complete game was Burkett's 19th of his 12-year major league
career. It was his fifth career shutout. He threw just 103 pitches.
"I knew I didn't have many pitches, and I felt great, so there
was no reason to come out," Burkett said. "Bobby asked me a
couple of times late, but there was no way I was going to come out.
I just felt real good. That's when everything is fun, whenever
you're out there and you're throwing everything right where you
want to."
Reynoso (1-4), who fell to 0-10 against the Braves, allowed six
runs – five earned – and 10 hits in six innings.
Atlanta scored an unearned run in the first when Chipper Jones
doubled with two outs, and Dellucci dropped Surhoff's fly ball in
right field.
Gonzalez, who hit his 12th and 13th home runs on Thursday night
and needs one more to break the major league record for most homers
in April, was 0-for-4 but made a sliding, backhanded catch of Javy
Lopez's fly ball into the left field corner.
Game notes
Atlanta must beat Arizona Saturday and Sunday to avoid its
first losing record in April since 1993. ... The Braves are 3-5 on
their road trip. ... Plate umpire Paul Emmel ejected Diamondbacks
pitching coach Bob Welch during Atlanta's five-run second inning.
... Williams started at shortstop for Arizona for the second time
in four games. He hadn't played the position since 1996. ... LHP
Brian Anderson, on the DL with a sore back, allowed three hits,
struck out five and walked two in five scoreless innings in a
rehabilitation assignment for Triple-A Tucson on Friday and is
scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday in Montreal.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
| |
OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 9
Kansas City 2
Texas 11
Cleveland 9
Detroit 4
Tampa Bay 2
NY Yankees 3
Oakland 2
Toronto 12
Anaheim 4
Seattle 8
Chi. White Sox 3
Minnesota 6
Baltimore 3
Florida 9
Houston 8
Montreal 6
Milwaukee 1
St. Louis 9
NY Mets 0
Cincinnati 12
Colorado 9
Atlanta 9
Arizona 0
Pittsburgh 3
San Diego 0
Chicago Cubs 7
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 4
Philadelphia 3
|
