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For the third time this postseason, Curt Schilling dominates, striking out 12 and walking two in earning complete-game victory.
By KEVIN KELLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 20, 2001
ATLANTA -- When the season ends in a couple of weeks, Curt Schilling could have more to celebrate than a possible Cy Young Award. "His wife is going to get a fruit basket, and he's getting a week at the Phoenecian," teammate Luis Gonzalez said. "Full-body massage, whatever he wants."
"We're riding him out. When you're on a streak like he is, you just let him do whatever and don't bother him."
Just when it seems Schilling can't best himself, he does.
The 34-year-old pitched his third consecutive complete game, a four-hit, 5-1 victory against the Braves in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series Friday at Turner Field.
"I've never thrown better in more important games than I have in the last three," Schilling said.
He struck out 12, walked two and allowed only his second earned run in 27 innings this postseason as the Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series before an announced 41,624. Schilling is 16-1 after losses by Arizona this season.
Is that it, skeptics might ask?
Of course not.
Schilling left Javy Lopez flat on his back following after a home plate collision. "I didn't realize he missed it until after I hit him," Schilling said.
Braves starter John Burkett called the hit, and resulting collision at home, the turning point of the game.
And possibly the series.
"When he's at the plate, he thinks he's a hitter. When he's on the bases, he thinks he's a baserunner," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "After he lets the ball go, he thinks he's a fielder. Which is part of the reason he's the great competitor he is."
Schilling retired eight of the first nine batters he faced, didn't allow a hit until the fourth and got every batter out after a base hit.
"He's pitching like he's 18 again," Braves outfielder Brian Jordan.
And he got some much-needed run support thanks to a handful of misplays by Atlanta in the third and fifth innings.
Arizona scored only 13 runs in seven postseason games entering Friday.
"Pretty much the whole season we've been hitting home runs to manufacture runs, and now we're just trying to do it the small way," Gonzalez said. "In playoff baseball, it's all close games. So you take them when you can."
There was the botched play involving Burkett and first baseman Julio Franco in the third that led to two runs. Then there was the Schilling base hit to right in the fifth that Jordan wanted to throw to first but couldn't because Franco wasn't at the bag.
And don't forget the play at the plate in the fifth, when Chipper Jones threw perfectly to Lopez, who took his eye off it and got drilled by Schilling, allowing Tony Womack to score as well.
"Javy thought he should've caught it," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said.
Gonzalez also scored during the inning as Arizona took a four-run lead.
Atlanta got two runners on in the sixth, but Schilling came through by striking out Jones with a 97 mph fastball. The Braves got two runners on again in the next inning, but Schilling struck out ex-Ray Dave Martinez to end the inning.
"He's been kind of our savior all year," Gonzalez said. "Every time we lose a game, we back it up with him. And he's been outstanding for us. He's been money for us all year. He's the guy. He wants the ball when we need a win."
So does Albie Lopez.
It is up to Lopez, traded on July25 from Tampa Bay, to give Arizona a commanding two-game advantage.
Lopez is 2-0 against the Braves this season, including a shutout against Greg Maddux, who starts today on three days' rest.
"I've got to give this team a chance to win," Lopez said. "If I can go up there and match what Maddux is going to do and give this team a chance, I think I've done my job."