April 24
MADDUX HANDLES YANKEES
In the Atlanta Greg Maddux took on the New York Yankees as Interleague play began for the first time in the Cooperstown League. It can still get hot in April in Atlanta but on this day Maddux had the Yankee bats on ice.
The crafty right hander held the visitors to only four hits and one run on the night to get the better of Whitey Ford and start the series off great for the Braves. Maddux struck out four and only walked one showing his typical control for his second win of the year without a loss.
The Braves scored three in the bottom of the first as Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones drove in runs. Mickey Mantle was the only Yankee to have more then one hit on the night with Lou Gehrig the only extra base hit.
The only imperfection on the night for Maddux is that he could not finish what he started and John Smoltz came on to earn his third save of the seaoson.
With the Red Sox winning in Philadelphia, the Yankees are now out of first place.
Boggs Unstoppable In Boston
Wade Boggs is off to the kind of start that many had expected from his teamate Ted Williams. Williams however is the one in an early season slump while Boggs is making a claim for early MVP honors. None of it should really matter in the end of course as long as Boston keeps on winning.
Boggs is white hot leading the league with a .436 average and a league leading 34 hits. Boggs is also tops in RBI with 27 thus far and is outperforming all of the sluggers throughout the league. Boggis is just coming through when his team needs him with men on base going 13/26 with men in scoring position.
"He is just in a groove and seeing the ball so well right now" said manager Terry Francona, "but then again when isnt Wade Boggs seeing the ball well?"
Williams on the other hand is only hitting .225 and has three hits in the last week. Williams hasnt been available for comment but the fact that the slugger is facing numerous pitchers he has never seen before on can study, may have something to do with it. No one expects Ted to stay cold for any prolonged time.
And again as long as the Red Sox are above the Yankees in the standings, no one really cares much.
