CHICAGO — Tom Glavine joined pitching's most prestigious club with a vintage performance, changing speeds and fooling hitters in the manner that made him one of baseball's best.
The stylish left-hander earned his 300th victory Sunday night with nervous family and friends looking on from near the Mets' dugout on the first-base side.
Glavine left with a five-run lead after 6 1/3 innings, and New York's bullpen held on for an 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Wife Christine Glavine wiped tears from her eyes as Billy Wagner retired Mike Fontenot on a grounder for the final out. Glavine, who watched from the dugout, came out in a warmup jacket and exchanged hugs and slaps with teammates. He then hugged his children, and his wife, giving her a kiss, received congratulations from his parents and waved to the crowd.
"It's over with now," he said after his hugging his youngest son.
Glavine (10-6) became the 23rd pitcher with 300 victories, the first since former teammate Greg Maddux reached the milestone in 2004 while with the Cubs. The 41-year-old Glavine, only the fifth lefty to win 300, capped a momentous weekend in baseball. On Saturday, Barry Bonds hit his 755th homer to tie Hank Aaron's career mark and Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach 500 homers.
Now the question is: Will the latest 300-game winner be the last? Randy Johnson has 284 wins, but back problems have plagued him and he turns 44 in September.
Six days earlier in his first try for No. 300, Glavine left with a one-run lead at Milwaukee only to watch his bullpen blow it.
Christine, who slumped in her seat at Miller Park, didn't have her hopes dashed this time — although the bullpen made it close before the Mets pulled away late. Carlos Delgado backed Glavine with four RBIs, and Luis Castillo had four of New York's 16 hits.
Before a crowd of 41,599 on a muggy night, and with flashbulbs popping all over the old neighborhood park, 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 manager Willie Randolph on the mound and a standing ovation as he left the field.
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.