Sports

Smoltz still has complete control

Associated Press
Published June 12, 2005

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ATLANTA - Just like many times over the last four years, John Smoltz was on the mound to finish an Atlanta victory.

This one was different, however. After saving 154 games from 2001-04, Smoltz again is a starter, and proved he can still go nine innings in the Braves' 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

The 38-year-old Smoltz pitched his first complete game in six years, giving up five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Smoltz criticized himself for allowing four straight hits in Oakland's three-run sixth inning. But backed by Andruw Jones, who hit a pair of two-run homers, and his rookie catcher, 21-year-old Brian McCann, who added his first major league homer, the Braves answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

McCann followed Jones' second homer with his shot in the sixth, but he said the far bigger thrill was catching for Smoltz.

"Today was unbelievable," McCann said. "I got to catch one of my childhood idols, John Smoltz. I just had a great time out there."

McCann was 5 when Smoltz pitched his first complete game in 1989.

Asked what he learned Saturday, McCann said: "That he's got one of the dirtiest two-seamers in the game."

Smoltz threw 106 pitches in his 48th career complete game and first since April 30, 1999,.

Smoltz lowered his ERA to 3.22 while earning his 168th career win.

Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, the Braves regained the lead against A's reliever Justin Duchscherer. In his first 28 innings, Duchscherer had allowed only one home run, but he gave up back-to-back shots to Jones and McCann. Jones' homer drove in Adam LaRoche, who singled.

Duchscherer gave up four hits and three runs in two innings.

Starting pitcher Kirk Saarloos held the Braves without a hit through three innings before the Braves took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. With two outs, LaRoche singled to right for his first of three hits and Jones followed with his first homer.

Saarloos gave up four hits and two runs in five innings. He was lifted for Bobby Kielty in the sixth inning, when the A's took the lead.

Mark Ellis, Kielty and Mark Kotsay led off with three straight singles, driving in one run. Marco Scutaro's double to the center-field wall drove in Kielty to tie it at 2. After Eric Chavez intentionally walked to load the bases, Scott Hatteberg hit into a double play to drive in the third run.

In the eighth, Kielty led off with a walk but was stranded at third when Smoltz struck out Chavez to end the inning.

[Last modified June 12, 2005, 00:39:15]

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