Barry Larkin misses a the ball on a tough throw from Juan Encarnacion. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        This is the problem with playing Atlanta: Often times you'll have to beat either Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine to have a chance to win a series. In Cinergy Field, that pair is even less likely to be had.

        Maddux did his part Friday night to sustain the duo's domination of Cincinnati, pitching five shutout innings in the Braves' 7-0 victory before a Cinergy crowd of 38,777. It was the second time in six days Maddux had beaten Chris Reitsma (3-2) and the Reds.

        For his career, Maddux is 12-4 with a 2.23 ERA in Cinergy. Today the Reds face Glavine, who is 15-4 with a 3.33 ERA here. Glavine, 8-2 this season, leads the National League with a 1.59 ERA.

        “It doesn't get any easier,” Reds outfielder Adam Dunn said of Glavine. “If he's on, he's one of the best in the game, too.”

        Cincinnati is still two games up on St. Louis, which lost to Pittsburgh 3-1 Friday.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning Friday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The battle of first-place clubs Friday drew the largest crowd since Opening Day and was just 120 tickets shy of a sellout. There were 11,500 tickets sold Friday, including approximately 7,000 walk-up sales.

        The fans saw Maddux and three Braves relievers combine to limit the Reds to four hits. Maddux (6-2) is getting hot, having gone 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA over his last six starts.

        The Reds' cause wasn't helped by travel troubles Thursday night; they didn't land in Cincinnati until 4 a.m. Friday.

        “The guys played like I feel,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We were a little dead.”

        When Maddux has his best stuff, he'll throw ground-ball outs all day. With two outs in the fifth, the Reds owned only one hit — a Ken Griffey Jr. bunt single — and had hit just one ball out of the infield.

Todd Walker puts his head down after missing the double play with his throw to first against The Atlanta Braves in the 3rd inning. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Even a 64-minute rain delay in the middle of the fourth inning didn't deter Maddux.

        Seeing Maddux twice in a week didn't help the Reds draw a bead. Todd Walker went 0-for-4, ending his career-high 12-game hitting streak. Adam Dunn saw an end to both his 25-game streak of reaching base safely and his nine-game hitting streak.

        “You could see the guy every day and it wouldn't help,” Dunn said. “He does things out there you can only do with a wiffleball.”

        Maddux is attempting this year to match Cy Young as the only pitchers in major-league history to win 15 or more games in 15 consecutive seasons. His 262 victories are 35th on the all-time list.

        The Braves used run-scoring singles from Jesse Garcia (second inning) and Chipper Jones (third inning) to grab an early 2-0 lead. Boone elected to not bring back Reitsma, who had thrown 54 pitches, after the rain delay.

Catcher Corky Miller sits dejected after the Reds lost. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Atlanta gained breathing room with two runs in the seventh off Luis Pineda, with doubles by Keith Lockhart and Sheffield sandwiched around a Julio Franco single. Pineda has given up five runs in his last three appearances after previously going 9 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

        Griffey's bunt single ended an 0-for-12 skid. He needs four hits to reach 2,000 for his career. Griffey, who walked in the first inning, was thrown out in his first steal attempt of the season.

        Reds reliever Scott Williamson had to leave the game after one inning of work because of tenderness along the fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand. He said he thinks it's an ingrown nail that hurts especially on split-finger pitches.

Braves 7, Reds 0 Reds box, runs Casey feels secure despite trade speculation Gehrig speech gets an encore Martinez won't pitch against Yanks NL roundup AL roundup Notes from Friday's games Richmond 5, Louisville 4

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