Atlanta starter Greg Maddux had the most successful April of his career, going 4-0. While compiling his stellar record, though, Maddux uncharacteristically gave up more hits (43) than he had innings pitched (33). At the beginning of the season, Maddux had given up 2,503 hits over 2,849.1 innings for a .88 hits per inning career average. His April mark was 1.30 per inning.
BUT SERIOUSLY
The San Diego Padres finally suffered a series sweep at the hands of the Cubs last weekend. The Padres had gone 73 consecutive series without being swept. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that streak was the fourth longest in this century. The three longer were posted by the 1904-06 Philadelphia A’s with 76, the 1903-05 New York Giants with 97 and the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals with a phenomenal 132.
5-FOR-5
Catcher Jason Kendall of the Pittsburgh Pirates had five hits in five at-bats Monday night against the San Francisco Giants but did not pick up an RBI or score a run. Kendall, who lashed two doubles and three singles, is just the eighth batter since 1970 to post an unproductive 5-for-5. The other seven were Matty Alou (1970), Cesar Tovar (1974), Richie Hebner (1978), Darren Daulton (1989), Rafael Palmeiro (1990), Jose Vizcaino (1995) and Jeff Blauser (1996).
A REGULAR JOE
St. Louis rookie Joe McEwing is second the National League in hitting with a .389 average. In an effort to keep McEwing in his lineup, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has played the rookie at second base 14 times, left field eight times, center field four times, third base four times, right field three times and first base once.
MANAGEMENT STYLE
Los Angeles Dodger manager Davey Johnson won his 1,000th game on Monday when the Dodgers defeated the Montreal Expos. Among active managers, Johnson is fifth, trailing leader Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals by 578. The 10 winningest active managers through through Thursday:
MANAGER TEAM WINS
Tony La Russa Cardinals 1,579
Bobby Cox Braves 1,437
Joe Torre Yankees 1,212
Jim Leyland Rockies 1,009
Davey Johnson Dodgers 1,001
Lou Piniella Mariners 953
*Tom Kelly Twins 934
Jim Fregosi Blue Jays 876
Bobby Valentine Mets 786
Mike Hargrove Indians 642
* All with the Twins
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AROUND THE HORN
Rookie catcher Creighton Gubanich of the Red Sox is the first major-leaguer whose first name is Creighton. . . . Raul Mondesi of the Dodgers is third in the NL in homers with nine; the last Dodger to lead the majors in homers was Duke Snider who hit 43 in 1956. . . . The average age of the Reds is 27.95 years; the average age of the team’s Class AAA farm team, Indianapolis, is 28.76. . . . San Diego’s Tony Gwynn finished April with a .412 batting average; it’s the ninth time in his career that he’s hit .400 or better in a month. . . . Tampa Bay’s Fred McGriff’s homer last weekend at Comiskey Park gave him a home run in 33 major-league stadiums, tying him with Ellis Burks of the Giants and Gary Gaetti of the Cubs for homers in the most big-league parks. . . . Barry Larkin of the Reds is now the active leader for most at bats without a grand slam with 5,804; Mark Grace had the lead until he connected for a grand slam Tuesday in his 6,136th career at-bat.
STREAKY GUYS
Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez had a 20-game hitting streak going into Saturday’s game against New York. Gonzalez’s streak has eclipsed the Diamondbacks’ record of 13 games that Kelly Stinnett set last year. The longest hitting streak posted by a player on an expansion team is Paul Molitor’s 39 for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987. The players who hold the hit-streak record for each expansion franchise:
PLAYER TEAM YEAR STREAK
Paul Molitor Brewers 1987 39
Benito Santiago Padres 1987 34
George Brett Royals 1980 30
Garrett Anderson Angels 1998 28
John Olerud Blue Jays 1993 26
Mickey Rivers Rangers 1980 24
Hubie Brooks Mets 1984 24
Joey Cora Mariners 1997 24
Art Howe Astros 1981 23
Dante Bichette Rockies 1995 23
Luis Gonzalez Astros 1997 23
Edgar Renteria Marlins 1996 22
Delino DeShields Expos 1993 21
Luis Gonzalez Diamondbacks 1999 20
Quinton McCracken Devil Rays 1998 18
Chicago Tribune.
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