Key tops Maddux again as Orioles romp over Braves

Tuesday, March 4, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Sure, it was only spring training. Still, it was worth noting the matchup -- Jimmy Key vs. Las Vegan Greg Maddux.

Key, who beat Maddux in the clinching Game 6 of the World Series last season, again was on the winning team when the Baltimore Orioles beat the Atlanta Braves 16-2 Monday in an exhibition at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"I thought about it yesterday when I heard Maddux was pitching," Key said. "It's ironic, but, of course, this is not the same."

Marquis Grissom homered on Key's second pitch. The left-hander, who signed with the Orioles as a free agent in the off-season, gave up two hits in two innings in his second appearance of the spring.

Key threw 29 pitches -- 20 for strikes -- then threw in the bullpen mound after his scheduled stint.

"I just wanted to throw some fastballs for location and to build up some arm strength," he said. "My fastball will be there at the end provided my arm stays healthy, and it feels great right now."

Maddux, making his spring training debut, retired the Orioles in order in the first inning, but allowed three runs and five hits -- including a solo homer by Eric Davis -- in the second.

Pete Incaviglia hit a grand slam for the Orioles, who have scored in double figures in three of their five exhibition games. Danny Clyburn and Wady Almonte also homered for Baltimore.

* MARLINS 8, METS 0: Florida won its fourth straight game under new manager Jim Leyland as Jeff Conine hit a two-run double and Bob Natal had a two-run homer against New York at Melbourne, Fla.

* TWINS (ss) 9, BLUE JAYS (ss) 0: Rich Becker homered and drove in three runs in a game between split squads from Minnesota and Toronto at Dunedin, Fla.

* TWINS (ss) 9, RANGERS 5: Scott Stahoviak homered and singled for Minnesota's split squad in a win over Texas at Port Charlotte, Fla.

* TIGERS 6, YANKEES 5: Matt Walbeck had three hits and drove in three runs as Detroit defeated New York at Lakeland, Fla.

* RED SOX 8, PHILLIES 6: Tim Spehr and Rudy Pemberton homered on consecutive pitches as Boston beat Philadelphia at Fort Myers, Fla.

* ROYALS 17, PIRATES 14: Mark Johnson homered twice and drove in nine runs for Pittsburgh, but Kansas City won on Joe Vitiello's two homers and seven RBIs at Bradenton, Fla. Johnson took advantage of a 25 mph wind to hit a three-run homer, a two-run homer, a two-run double and a two-run single, all in five innings.

* INDIANS 7, REDS 4: Jim Thome and Matt Williams hit consecutive homers and Cleveland overcame Pokie Reese's grand slam to beat Cincinnati at Winter Haven, Fla.

* DODGERS 4 EXPOS 3: Hideo Nomo allowed only one hit in three scoreless innings as Los Angeles beat Montreal at West Palm Beach, Fla.

* MEXICO CITY 6, METS (ss) 4: Former major leaguer Ty Gainey and Eduardo Jimenez homered as the Mexico City Red Devils defeated New York's split squad at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

* CUBS 7, ROCKIES 3: Sammy Sosa hit his third homer in three games and drove in four runs, leading Chicago over Colorado at Tucson, Ariz.

* PADRES 7, ATHLETICS 3: Tony Gwynn hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run seventh inning as San Diego defeated Oakland at Phoenix.

* BREWERS 13, ANGELS 5: Mark Loretta had three hits and drove in four runs, leading Milwaukee over Anaheim at Tempe, Ariz.

* CARDINALS 13, ASTROS 7: Andy Van Slyke, making a comeback after sitting out the 1996 season, went 3-for-4 and keyed a nine-run fifth inning as St. Louis beat Houston at Kissimmee, Fla. Cory Snyder, out of the majors since 1994, hit two doubles for the Cardinals.

* MARINERS 7, GIANTS 3: Jamie Moyer and Edwin Hurtado each pitched three strong innings and Chris Sabo went 2-for-2 as Seattle defeated San Francisco at Peoria, Ariz.

* BLUE JAYS (ss) 6, WHITE SOX 2: Shannon Stewart tripled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning as Toronto's split squad beat Chicago at Sarasota, Fla.

SPRING TRAINING