ATLANTA - Tom Glavine was almost perfect. He had to be. Glavine pitched the Atlanta Braves to their first World Series victory after half a decade of frustration last night, beating the Cleveland Indians 1-0.

Two days ago, Glavine said the perfect scenario would see him win the biggest game in franchise history, David Justice get the big hit and Mark Wohlers get the save.

"We've been through all the disappointments, the bad times," said Glavine, who saw his dream turn to reality.
Afterward, the champagne and tears of joy flowed into the southern night. Glavine allowed one measly single as Cleveland got just one baserunner as far as second all night.

 

Atlanta had only six hits, squandering chances with the bases loaded twice, hitting into a double play and stranding 11 runners.

 

But with Glavine pitching the game of his life, it didn't matter. He didn't allow a hit until Tony Pena blooped a single into right

 

field in the sixth inning. Leaving after eight innings so exhausted his legs could barely hold him, Glavine had faced only three batters over the minimum 24.

Dennis Martinez, pitching for the Indians with an aching elbow, danced through 4 2/3 innings, incredibly remaining unscathed on the scoreboard despite four hits and five walks.

A sense of urgency was creeping back into a sellout crowd that had seen the Braves lose two World Series and an NLCS since 1991. The club record in previous Game 6 appearances was a miserable 1-6.

"It's frustrating as a pitcher when you see that many chances turn into nothing and you start to wonder if you can keep doing what you've been doing," admitted Glavine. Thoughts of past failures lurked. "We had come up short so often. That bitterness stays in your mouth," he said.

But Glavine, the Series MVP, nicked corners with his slider and fastball all night, striking out eight.
And then, Justice was served.

The right fielder smashed a 1-1 pitch from reliever Jim Poole deep into the recesses of right field to lead off the sixth inning.

 

"I was looking for a fastball inside and as soon as I hit it I knew it was gone," said Justice, who along with Glavine and Wohlers have been here through all the near wins and years of pent-up frustrations.

 

Glavine had a 1-2-3 eighth, but both Jim Thome and Pena hit the ball well. "I didn't have anything left," said Glavine.

But Wohlers had plenty, stepping in as the din of 51,875 screaming, standing, stomping fans filled Fulton County Stadium.

Cameras sent pin pricks of light flashing through the night as Rafael Belliard made a superb running catch in foul ground. Pinch-hitter Paul Sorrento then launched a fly ball to centre.

And suddenly it was over as centre-fielder Marquis Grissom chased down Carlos Baerga's line drive and the stadium erupted with the sounds of rockets, fireworks and the Tomahawk chant.

Javy Lopez, amid the shrieks of joy, leapt on Wohlers., but we're still in the driver's seat."

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