Maddux Throws 6 No-Hit Innings for Dodgers

By The Associated Press

Greg Maddux has accomplished just about everything he could imagine during his career. Rain kept him from possibly adding one of the few missing pieces.

The 40-year-old right-hander didn’t allow a hit over six innings in his Dodgers debut. But he didn’t return for the seventh after a 46-minute rain delay as Los Angeles went on to beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Thursday night.

Maddux, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Monday, faced one batter over the minimum through six innings. He had no regrets that he missed out on a chance at getting the first no-hitter of his 20-year, 328-win career.

"After two or three innings, you can sit around for an hour and go back out there," Maddux said. "I’ve done that, but after six innings, I’ve never done that. In this ballpark, two runs is nothing, and they’ve got a lot of guys who can hit it out."

Scott Hatteberg singled off Joe Beimel to open the seventh, but the no-hit possibilities for Maddux (10-11) were over when he didn’t go out after the delay.

In September 1991, an eight-man committee chaired by then-commissioner Fay Vincent ruled that a pitcher had to throw a complete game of at least nine innings to have it count as a no-hitter. As a result, 50 no-hitters were tossed out of the record book.

Dodgers manager Grady Little said decisions about pitchers going back out "are all about the clock and the man."

"After 45 minutes, we didn’t want to take a chance," Little said. "He said he had a no-hitter in Little League that would last him the rest of his life. We have priorities now."

The Dodgers won their sixth straight, one short of their season high, while the Reds lost their fifth in a row.

In other NL games, it was: Philadelphia 8, St. Louis 1; Florida 4, New York 1; Pittsburgh 3, Atlanta 2; and San Diego 5, Houston 2. Arizona and Chicago split a doubleheader, with the Diamondbacks winning the first game 10-2 and the Cubs taking the nightcap 7-3.

At St. Louis, Chase Utley extended his streak and the Cardinals extended theirs.

Utley singled in the first inning and added two more hits as his hitting streak reached 35 games, tied for the 10th-longest in major league history.

"Just to get it out of the way in the first at-bat, everybody is just so pumped, and then I think everybody can relax after that," starter Cole Hamels said.

Hamels (4-5) matched his career best by striking out 12 in seven innings. He allowed two singles and a run. Chris Coste, another rookie, had the first four-hit game of his career and drove in two runs.

Jason Marquis (12-9) worked six innings and allowed four runs and nine hits as the Cardinals lost their seventh straight. Scott Rolen drove in St. Louis’ run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

At Cincinnati, Maddux won his third straight start after going 0-6 in his previous seven outings. With the Cubs far from playoff contention, they traded him to the Dodgers for shortstop Cesar Izturis right before the July 31 deadline for making deals without waivers.

Maddux improved to 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA in four starts against the Reds this season. Cincinnati has gotten a combined six hits over the last two games.

"He feeds off aggressive swings," Hatteberg said. "He was sharp tonight – you’ve got to give him a lot of credit – and we weren’t."

The Reds finished with two hits and were shut out for the eighth time, matching last year’s total.

"He’s got good control," Reds catcher Javier Valentin said. "He doesn’t leave the ball over the middle of the plate. He’s got good movement. What can you do? He’s one of the greatest pitchers in baseball."

Olmedo Saenz hit a two-run homer and Takashi Saito pitched the ninth for his 11th save as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep.

Eric Milton (7-7) lost for the third time in four starts.

Marlins 4, Mets 1

At Miami, Miguel Cabrera’s three-run double broke a tie with two outs in the eighth, and Dontrelle Willis earned his first victory since July 7.

Willis (7-8) limited New York to an unearned run in eight innings in outdueling Pedro Martinez.

Miguel Olivo singled off Aaron Heilman (1-4) to start the eighth and advanced on a sacrifice. Hanley Ramirez and Jacobs walked to load the bases and Cabrera then pulled a pitch into the corner in left.

Diamondbacks 10, Cubs 2, 1st game

Cubs 7, Diamondbacks 3, 2nd game

At Chicago, Matt Murton tied a major league record with four doubles and drove in five runs to help the Cubs gain the split of the doubleheader.

Murton’s first three doubles drove in runs, helping Juan Mateo (1-0), who gave up two earned runs in five innings to get his first major league victory. Murton’s two-run double in the first off Enrique Gonzalez (3-3) gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead.

Rookie Stephen Drew homered, tripled and drove in a season-high four runs to lead the Diamondbacks in the first game. He added an RBI single in the second game. Luis Gonzalez homered in a five-run first inning to provide an early cushion for Juan Cruz (4-6), who won his first game since June 1.

Pirates 3, Braves 2

At Pittsburgh, Shawn Chacon allowed one run in five innings to win his Pittsburgh debut and prevent a sweep by the Braves.

Joe Randa drove in two runs and Mike Gonzalez pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th consecutive save conversion, breaking the Pirates’ season record set by Jose Mesa in 2004.

Padres 5, Astros 2

At San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and three RBIs to help the Padres snap a three-game losing streak and remain in first place in the NL West.

Clay Hensley (7-8) picked up the victory, while Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth for his 29th save.

Matt Albers (0-1) gave up five runs and eight hits in five-plus innings in his first major league start.