Maddux, Braves pounded by Marlins

ATLANTA - After one of the poorest pitching performances of his career, Greg Maddux couldn't wait to get back on the mound.

Off to his worst start in 14 seasons, Maddux was pounded for three homers and nine runs in only two innings Saturday night as the Florida Marlins routed the Atlanta Braves 17-1.

``Sure I want to get out there. Believe it or not, I'm still looking forward to pitching again,'' Maddux said.

The four-time NL Cy Young winner won't have to wait long. With Mike Hampton and Paul Byrd on the 15-day disabled list, Maddux will pitch on three days of rest when he starts Wednesday night against Philadelphia.

``He's such an artist. It's just that sometimes he doesn't throw it exactly where he wants it,'' Florida manager Jeff Torborg said.

``My pitch selection was terrible. My location was terrible,'' Maddux said. ``They hit every mistake I made and hit them hard ... even some of the outs were hit hard.''

The Marlins got 23 hits and tied the team record for runs, set on Sept. 17, 1995 against Colorado. The loss was the most lopsided for the Braves since a 17-1 defeat to Montreal on July 3, 2000.

Alex Gonzalez homered and drove in five runs with three hits. Juan Pierre, Ivan Rodriguez, Derrek Lee, Juan Encarnacion and Todd Hollandsworth also had three hits for Florida.

Maddux (0-2), who went 0-3 at the beginning of 1989 when he was with the Chicago Cubs, gave up eight hits and seven earned runs. He also was tagged for three homers in an inning for the first time in his career.

Embarrassed?

``Yeah. Big time. I pitched crummy in the first inning and crummier the next inning,'' he said.

Maddux has an 11.00 ERA after two starts. He also lost on opening day, giving up nine hits and four earned runs in seven innings against Montreal.

The Marlins batted around in each of the first two innings against Maddux. Rodriguez hit a solo homer, Mike Lowell had a two-run shot and Gonzalez capped a six-run second inning off Maddux with a three-run homer.

Gonzalez's third homer in two games and fourth this season made it 9-0.

``I think Maddux just left the ball up more than he wanted to,'' Lowell said. ``We hit the ball hard, but I also think we found a lot of holes. Things just went our way.''

It was only the third time in his career that Maddux had given up three home runs in a game. The others were Aug. 23, 1998, in a 12-7 win over Los Angeles, and Sept. 2, 1998, in a 4-2 loss to Houston.

``I've played against him for years. It happens to the best of them,'' Hollandsworth said. ``We got to him early. Some errors, some mistakes. Next thing you know, we were putting up some big numbers.''

The Marlins scored three runs in the first on an RBI single by Andy Fox and a two-run single by Encarnacion and left the bases loaded. Two of the runs were unearned, on consecutive errors by third baseman Vinny Castilla and Maddux, who has won 13 consecutive Gold Glove awards.

The Marlins hit four home runs in the series opener Friday night two by Gonzalez and one each by Lowell and Encarnacion but the Braves won 12-7.

Florida starter Josh Beckett (1-1) went six innings. The right-hander gave up six hits, one run, walked three and struck out nine. He also got his first career RBI with a sixth-inning single.

The Braves' run came in the third on an RBI single by Gary Sheffield.

Braves manager Bobby Cox took the loss in stride.

``You'd better forget it, or you'll never go to sleep,'' he said.
Notes: The five RBIs by Gonzalez matched his career high. He also did it on July 14, 2000 at Philadelphia. ... Everyone in Florida's starting lineup had at least one hit and scored a run. ... Atlanta RHP Paul Byrd, on the 15-day DL with a sore elbow, pitched 4 1-3 innings with Double-A Greenville on Saturday night against Birmingham. He gave up eight hits, six runs four earned walked one and struck out three. If healthy, Byrd could start Thursday against Philadelphia.