Braves Hold on to Take Game 1 of 1995 World Series Behind Classic Greg Maddux Complete Game
By Adam Weinrib
After facing off with the Mad Dog, the 100-win Cleveland Indians' offense didn't look quite so dogged on Saturday night in Atlanta.
Behind Greg Maddux's near-pitch-perfect performance, the Braves have taken a 1-0 series lead in the best of seven, though most Atlanta residents saved money on manicures this week by filing their nails down subconsciously following a disastrous ninth inning error.
But, what's done is done, and Cleveland's bats certainly looked it when the final out of a 3-2 Game 1 was finally recorded. Prior to the ninth inning, the only run they put on the ledger came in the first inning, when Kenny Lofton reached on an error and manufactured one himself. The slate was quickly evened in the second, though, by Fred McGriff's solo shot off Orel Hershiser.
Knotted at one until the bottom of the seventh, the Tribe battled a series of collective yips on the biggest stage, but the stuff of their nightmares was a welcomed gift at Fulton County Stadium. First, Hershiser, the old (and losing) Bulldog, issued free passes to McGriff and David Justice. Paul Assenmacher seamlessly relieved him, loading the bases by allowing Mike Devereaux to reach in the exact same fashion. A Luis Polonia fielder's choice and Rafael Belliard bunt later, and the Braves had taken a 3-1 lead.
Maddux held that lead, as he so often does, into the ninth inning. But with one out, that pesky Lofton ripped a single again. He advanced to second on Omar Vizquel's groundout, before agitating once more, breaking for third, drawing an overthrow, and scoring. But one final exhale followed, as Maddux induced a pop out from Carlos Baerga once the bases were again cleared of invaders, with Chipper Jones skidding near the camera well to finish the deal.
Round one goes to the new school ace, who's absorbed plenty of Hershiser's brand of tricks over the years. Maddux earns a clear Player of the Game nod, as Atlanta readies to send Tom Glavine to the bump in Game 2 tomorrow night.