Maddux misses; Nomar hits
On an electric day at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Greg Maddux’s attempt to reach a coveted milestone shared the spotlight with the debut of new shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. The Cubs rallied for a 6-3 victory over Philadelphia Sunday, but 38-year-old Maddux bowed out after six innings and wound up with no decision.
With the Cubs trailing 3-2, Maddux didn’t come out of the dugout for the seventh, disappointing 39,032 who had come to see history. Kent Mercker (2-0) earned the win in relief, retiring the only batter he faced before the Cubs scored four runs in their half of the seventh.
Maddux later admitted he was gassed after throwing 87 pitches on a hot afternoon and didn’t want to risk putting the Cubs in a bigger hole.
“I think I could’ve started the seventh,” he said. “I don’t know if I could’ve made it out of it or not. I was pretty much done after the fifth or sixth. I’m just glad we won.”
Maddux’s next attempt at No. 300 will come Saturday in San Francisco, where he’ll go against Giants ace Jason Schmidt.
Maddux may have been the featured attraction, but Garciaparra’s first game as a Cub was the perfect complement. The five-time A.L. All-Star received a standing ovation when he took the field to warm up and another before his first at-bat. Fans were chanting “No-mar” before Garciaparra came up with his first hit and RBI in the decisive seventh.
“It was great,” Garciaparra said. “My first game. Not only to wear this uniform but to be able to play in front of these fans, and the ovation I got … things like that you’ll never forget. I know I won’t. I can’t thank them enough. I hope they know how much I appreciate it.”
Loaiza surprised by trade to Yankees
During the All-Star break, Esteban Loaiza got a pretty good idea the New York Yankees were interested in him. He just didn’t think they meant this soon.
“(Jason) Giambi was saying ‘We want you, we want you,’ ” Loaiza said. “The way they were talking – (manager Joe) Torre and the coaching staff – they wanted me since four years ago, when I was with Texas.”
Loaiza was approached by Torre, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and several players at the All-Star game in Houston this July.
But the 20-game winner didn’t expect anything to happen before the offseason – when he can become a free agent – until he received a phone call from White Sox general manager Kenny Williams while on Chicago’s team bus, heading to the ballpark in Detroit on Saturday.
When Arizona declined to make a trade proposal for Randy Johnson, the Yankees made their last-minute deal for the right-handed Loaiza before the non-waiver trade deadline Saturday, sending inconsistent Jose Contreras and $3 million to the White Sox.
Minor leaguer throws no-hitter
Charlotte Knights pitcher Tetsu Yofu threw a no-hitter against the Durham Bulls on Sunday, winning 5-0 at For Mill, S.C.
Yofu (3-4) struck out 10 and walked two while throwing 140 pitches.
Yofu’s toughest test came in the first inning when Durham second baseman Brooks Badeaux reached on a fielding error and, two outs later, designated hitter Midre Cummings walked. But Yofu struck out Johnny Gomes to end the threat.
It was Charlotte’s first no-hitter since joining the International League 11 years ago.
Clearing the bases
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up shortstop B.J. Upton from Triple-A Durham. … Montreal Expos right-hander Zach Day will be sidelined four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his right middle finger while attempting a bunt against Florida in a game that was eventually rained out. … Red Sox slugger David Ortiz dropped his appeal and began serving a five-game suspension Sunday.