Tony Gwynn had always had Greg Maddux’s number.
The Padres’ Hall-of-Fame right fielder faced the Braves’ Hall of Famer more than any other pitcher in his career, never struck out even once in 107 career plate appearances and hit .415/.476/.521 against The Professor. Two hits in that batting line arrived on this date — April 11 — in 1996 in a 2-1 victory that snapped Maddux’s major league record of 18 straight road victories.
“I knew it was going to end sooner or later,” Maddux said after the game. “Overall, I thought I pitched all right.