That’s the way to start a weekend.
Greg Maddux extended his consistency record by winning the 15th game of the year–making this the 17th straight year he’s done so.
Late Thursday out in San Francisco, the Houston Astros showed renewed life as they came from behind to beat the Giants, 7-3, putting the Cubs a half-game ahead in the National League wild-card race.
Maddux earned his 15th victory Thursday as the Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3.
“You always have your goals, and it’s always to win 20,” Maddux said. “But one of the goals is to pitch 200 innings. … Personally, I think getting to 200 innings means more than the wins because you really can’t control the wins and losses as much as you can showing up every fifth day.”
Maddux is now at 2012 1/43 innings. If he reaches a combined 400 innings in 2004-05, he is guaranteed a
$9 million option for 2006.
The Cubs, now 7-2 on this 12-game trip, head to New York having won 12 of their last 15 games.
Maddux said his 15-wins-for-17-seasons streak “probably” would be surpassed some day, though the only other pitcher who ever came close is Cy Young, who did it for 15 straight seasons, from 1891-1905.
The Cubs jumped on Pirates emergency starter Nelson Figueroa for four runs in the second inning on Mark Grudzielanek’s RBI single, Bako’s run-scoring double and Maddux’s two-run single past a drawn-in infield.
Maddux later was caught in a rundown between first and second and had the wind knocked out of him while making a diving attempt to get back to first base.
“That’s Maddux right there,” Mercker said.
“He could’ve easily got himself tagged and done nothing … that’s why he’s a Hall of Famer.”
– – –
Now what?
What other milestones do the Cubs have to look forward to?
Player
Greg Maddux
Target
4,180 innings (34th, passing Burleigh Grimes)
Now
4,170.1 innings pitched
Target date
Oct. 1 vs. Braves
Player
Sammy Sosa
Target
574 home runs (7th, passing Harmon Killebrew)
Now
572 home runs
Target date
Oct. 1 vs. Braves
Player
Sammy Sosa
Target
1,530 RBIs (38th all time, passing Tris Speaker)
Now
1,526 RBIs
Target date
Wednesday vs. Reds
Player
Moises Alou
Target
100 stolen bases
Now
95 stolen bases
Target date
Has 6 since 2003. This could take a while.
