Game 3 – Braves 5 – Astros 6Greg Maddux vs. Jose Lima
This game could not have started out better for the Braves if Hollywood had written the script. Greg Maddux, a Cy Young candidate, retired the first 11 batters before Carl Everett grounded a single to left in the 4th. The Braves bats finally went to work in the 5th. They batted around scoring 4 runs. Maddux even added to the onslaught leading off the inning with a single and grounding out to end it. Braves fans were already anticipating their rematch against the Pirates.
Then the unthinkable happened. Billy Spiers, who may have been the Astros best player, led off the 5th with a double. Paul Bako followed with a single that scored Spiers and the Astros seemed to gain confidence that maybe Maddux wasn’t at his best. After getting the next 2 batters, Maddux then allowed 3 straight hits and the Astros had closed to 4-3. They added a run on a Bako sacrifice fly in the 6th to tie it up. Mo’ that fickle lady had clearly moved to the Astros bench. The Braves broke the tie in the 7th on a run-scoring single by Sid Bream. Manager Burnette trusting in his ace left Maddux in to the close the deal. But alas it was not meant to be. Hidalgo walked to lead off the 7 th. Craig Biggio smacked a RBI single scoring Hidalgo. Then with two outs Carl Everett smacked the 1 st pitch he saw between short and third for the game winning hit. The much maligned pen closed out the game as Butch Henry pitched a perfect 8th and Billy Wagner closed it out in the 9th. Scott Elarton picked up the win in relieve as Manager Ryan astutely pulled a struggling Lima in the 5th.
Braves lead the series 2-1
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