Greg Maddux Struggles as Indians Take Game 5 of 1995 World Series

Greg Maddux's sterling command was just a bit off on Thursday night in icy Cleveland, and the Braves will now head home to attempt to close out the World Series on friendlier turf.

Despite throwing seven innings and saving the bullpen, Maddux's four earned runs allowed were a few too many, and Jose Mesa snuffed out one final Atlanta rally for a 5-4 Tribe win.

Ultimately, Jim Thome's dead-center moonshot off Brad Clontz in the bottom of the eighth was the difference. If not for this smack, Ryan Klesko's third home run in as many games would've knotted things up with two outs in the ninth.

Instead, Jose Mesa fanned Mark Lemke to end it, and Atlanta will fly home to Fulton County unsatisfied, counting on Tom Glavine on their home turf this weekend.

Maddux had been 18-0 in 20 regular season starts on the road dating back to July 2, 1994, but October proved to be a different menace this time around.

"The Cleveland Indians' offense knows how to adapt," Orel Hershiser told the Cleveland Plain Dealer after the game. "They studied film on Maddux. They talked about what to do against him among themselves. They did not want to be the same team against Greg Maddux again."

We'll see if Glavine can make similar adjustments in Saturday's contest.