Tom Glavine, the Atlanta Braves' 1991 Cy Young winner, showed the Chicago Cubs just what fine pitching can do for a ballclub.
Glavine hurled a two-hitter Monday night and Ron Gant smacked a home run and singled in another run to send the Braves to a 5-0 win over Chicago.Glavine, 3-1, struck out six and walked one to earn his second shutout and second complete game of the season. It marked the seventh career shutout for the left-hander, who allowed only one runner past first base, and that because of an error.
The win marked the third straight for the defending National League champions and moved them even with Los Angeles for last place in the NL West.
"Last year it was somebody else every night," Braves Manager Bobby Cox said, "and that's what we need right now. We need a little spark."
The Cubs, also in need of some major spark, may have lost All-Star second baseman Ryne Sandberg for a few games. Sandberg left in the seventh inning after being spiked on the left knee by Atlanta shortstop Rafael Belliard on a forceout play.
"He was lucky," trainer John Fierro said. "He was one thin layer of skin away from ripping it open. It was down to the first layer."
"My heart stopped," said Lefebvre.
The Cubs bats stopped long before that, thanks to Glavine.
The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the second inning off Shawn Boskie, 3-1. With one out, Sid Bream walked and scored on a double to center by Greg Olson. Olson went to third on an error by center fielder Sammy Sosa. After Mark Lemke walked, Belliard reached on a fielder's choice that scored Olson.
Giants 2, Expos 1
At San Francisco, Dave Burba hurled six shutout innings to post his first NL victory and send the Expos to their seventh loss in nine games. Burba, who retired 13 straight batters at one point, allowed five hits, walked none and struck out one to improve to 1-2.
Phillies 12, Padres 9
At San Diego, Dave Hollins collected a career-best five RBI with a two-run homer and a three-run double. Philadelphia produced season highs in runs and hits . Curt Schilling, 2-0, earned the win. Bruce Hurst, 1-2, lost for the first time in six decisions against the Phillies.
Cardinals 5, Dodgers 4
At Los Angeles, pinch hitter Craig Wilson's sixth-inning sacrifice fly brought home Bernard Gilkey with the winning run. Milt Thompson collected three hits and drove in two runs for St. Louis, which pounded out 13 hits against four Dodger pitchers.
Twins 4, Orioles 1
At Minneapolis, Bill Krueger surrendered two hits over eight innings to improve to 4-0 through four starts. Krueger, 4-0, retired 18 of the last 20 batters he faced and, after allowing a second-inning homer, let no Oriole past first base. Rick Aguilera got the final three outs, gaining his fifth save.
Yankees 8, Rangers 7
At New York, pinch hitter Kevin Maas drove in the game-winning run with a bloop single in the seventh inning. The Yankees blew a two-run and a three-run lead and trailed 7-6 before rallying for two runs in the seventh on Roberto Kelly's homer and Maas's single off Terry Mathews, 1-2.