Maddux reaches 300

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Greg Maddux relied on guts, guile and his bullpen to win his 300th game because he never quite found the pinpoint control that has so defined his stellar career.
Maddux calmly overcame a shaky start to become the 22nd major league pitcher to reach 300 victories, leading the Chicago Cubs over the San Francisco Giants 8-4 on Saturday.
"Obviously, to win 300 games, you've got to have a lot of help. I've played on a lot of good teams, and a lot of times, you're only as good as the guys behind you. Today was a good example," Maddux said.
He is the first National Leaguer to accomplish the feat since Philadelphia's Steve Carlton in 1983. Roger Clemens was the last to do it on his fourth attempt for the New York Yankees on June 13 last season.
Maddux needed just two tries after getting a no-decision in his first chance last Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
He left in the sixth with a 6-3 lead, no outs and two runners on, bumping fists with manager Dusty Baker. But Maddux didn't acknowledge the cheering, sellout crowd as he headed into the dugout and then on to the clubhouse to wait out his fate after throwing 82 pitches.
The Cubs' relievers came through.
Jon Leicester and Kent Mercker escaped the jam with Chicago ahead 6-4. Mercker retired Ray Durham on a popup to end the inning.
Kyle Farnsworth got Dustan Mohr to ground out with the bases loaded in the eighth, and LaTroy Hawkins secured the win with a scoreless ninth.
After the final out, Cubs fans held up a large "W" banner, and a graphic recognizing Maddux's achievement was shown on the center-field scoreboard. But Maddux never came back onto the field.
Team effort
"I didn't really pitch all that good today," Maddux said. "It was a total team effort. It was great to see."
The 38-year-old right-hander certainly wanted to get this major milestone over with, and so did the rest of the Cubs -- who knew their star pitcher cared more about bringing the focus back to their playoff chase.
And Chicago's potent lineup rallied from a three-run deficit to help Maddux (11-7) win his fourth straight decision and improve his career record to 300-170.
"It's more of a sense of relief more than anything," Maddux said.
He allowed four runs and seven hits in five-plus innings, striking out three and walking three.
Maddux is the second Cubs pitcher to reach 300 wins. Grover Cleveland Alexander achieved the feat in his last win of the 1924 season, a 7-3, 12-inning victory over the New York Giants in which he pitched a complete game.
Everybody thought it would be easier for Maddux once the Giants moved ace Jason Schmidt up a day to pitch Friday, then called up rookie right-hander Brad Hennessey, a former standout at Youngstown State from 1999-2001, to make his major league debut.
But that wasn't the case through the early innings when Maddux labored and never looked comfortable on the mound, and Hennessey (0-1) got two early strikeouts against Sammy Sosa.
Maddux had already allowed five hits and walked three through three innings, throwing 61 pitches.
Then the Cubs started the fourth with three straight hits, including Todd Walker's two-run double.
Chicago tied the game at 3 on Aramis Ramirez's RBI single in the fifth, then Derrek Lee hit a go-ahead double off the wall in right-center to chase Hennessey, who received a standing ovation as he left.
In the next inning, Corey Patterson hit a two-run homer to give the Cubs a 6-3 lead.
Moises Alou added a two-run homer in the ninth.
Hennessey, who was 6-years old when Maddux made his major league debut in September 1986, allowed four earned runs and seven hits in 42/3 innings.
It was the first time a pitcher reached 300 wins against a pitcher making his major league debut since John McPherson lost to Cy Young in 1901.
CHICAGOSAN FRAN
abrhbiabrhbi
CPttson cf5112Drham 2b4110
Grcprr ss5230Ledee rf3000
Alou lf5112Mohr rf2010
SSosa rf4000Snow 1b4110
ARmrz 3b5221Bonds lf3011
DeLee 1b5121Alfonzo 3b5231
TWalkr 2b3022Przyns c3021
Bako c3110Trralba c1000
Mddux p2000Grssom cf4010
Leicstr p0000DCruz ss3011
Merckr p0000Hnnssy p1000
Rmlngr p0000TyWlkr p0000
Macias ph1000Tucker ph0000
Frnswr p0000Feliz ph1000
Hwkins p0000Herges p0000
NPerez ph1000
Tomko p0000
Totals388128Totals354114
Chicago000222002--8
San Francisco102001000--4
E--Ledee (1), Alfonzo (10), DCruz (6). DP--San Francisco 1. LOB--Chicago 7, San Francisco 11. 2B--Garciaparra (4), ARamirez (29), DeLee (33), TWalker (18), Bako (5), Mohr (11), Bonds (18), Alfonzo (19), Pierzynski (21). 3B--Durham (6). HR--CPatterson (13), Alou (26). SB--Garciaparra (2). S--Bako, Maddux, DCruz. SF--Bonds.
IPHRERBBSO
Chicago
Maddux W,11-7574433
Leicester1-310001
Mercker2-300000
Remlinger110000
Farnsworth110010
Hawkins110002
San Francisco
Hennessey L,0-14 2-374415
TyWalker1 1-322202
Herges210003
Tomko122210
Maddux pitched to 2 batters in the 6th. HBP--by Farnsworth (Pierzynski). Umpires--Home, Ted Barrett; First, Lance Barksdale; Second, Alfonso Marquez; Third, Ed Rapuano. T--3:11. A--42,578.
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