Mets' Glavine made to feel at home after win No. 300

CHICAGO — Capping a historic baseball weekend, New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine on Sunday night recorded the 300th victory of his major league career when he defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-3.

GAME REPORT: Mets 8, Cubs 3

Glavine (10-6) became the 23rd member of baseball's 300-win club one day after the San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's all-time home run record and the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run.

"I think the feeling right now is relief. I wanted to get it over with for myself and my teammates," Glavine said after a 30-minute celebration on the field.

The 41-year-old left-hander handcuffed the Cubs for 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He received a high-five from manager Willie Randolph when he was removed with one out and one base runner on in the seventh inning.

After the last out, his family came on to the field to embrace him and Mets fans flooded behind the visiting dugout chanting, "TOM-MY GLA-VINE." As Randolph signed the lineup card, teammates stayed on the field to applaud Glavine.

"To think I would do something in this game that only 22 other people have done is really off the charts," Glavine said.

"I don't think the historical side will probably sink in for a while yet," he added. "I appreciate the emotional side of what I was able to accomplish tonight, but the historical side hasn't sunk in yet."

With his family in the stands and a contingent of Mets fans waving banners reading "300," Glavine carried a focused, businesslike demeanor to the mound.

He exhibited the craftsmanship that has defined his 20-plus major-league seasons, keeping hitters off balance by changing speeds and location. It was a similar performance to his first attempt at 300 last Tuesday at the Milwaukee Brewers when he left with a lead but the bullpen couldn't hold it.

"I was nervous today. I don't know why more so than in Milwaukee," he said. "I think I put a little more pressure on myself to try to get it done. Once I left for the ballpark, I seemed to calm down a little bit."

Glavine's family had been in Milwaukee to watch his first attempt.

"He was dealing with so much more pressure because of that," said his wife, Christine. "He worked so hard and he's such a good guy. I always feel like I'm being a cheerleader, but he deserves it."

Glavine was the third pitcher in the last five years to bid for his 300th win at Wrigley, and first of the three to succeed.

Roger Clemens, in his previous tour of duty with the Yankees, was denied on June 7, 2003, when the Cubs beat him and New York 5-2 in his third attempt at the historic mark. He won No. 300 six days later in St. Louis.

Cubs starter Greg Maddux took a no-decision in his first bid for 300 on Aug. 1, 2004, when Chicago beat Philadelphia 6-3. He won his next start in San Francisco Aug. 7.

Glavine got the run support he needed from his teammates Sunday, but he started the offense himself by driving in the first run of the game with a two-out single in the second inning off Jason Marquis (8-7), scoring Lastings Milledge, who had walked and stolen second. Jose Reyes followed with a single, but the rally died when Luis Castillo grounded out to end the inning.

Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado knocked in three runs with two doubles and a run-scoring groundout and second baseman Castillo had four hits to lead the offense.

Glavine cruised through the first five innings on 75 pitches and gave up a run in the sixth, getting a break in the third inning to escape a potential jam.

Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot laced back-to-back singles with two outs, but Soriano pulled up on the way to third base with a strained quadriceps — he'll be out 2-4 weeks — and was easily thrown out.

Glavine gave up his first run on back-to-back doubles by Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez in the sixth. When he gave up a double with one out in the seventh, he was removed and left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Wrigley Field.

"The reaction was, believe me, overwhelming," Glavine said. "It was special, whether it was the huge contingent of Mets fans that were here or the Cubs fans showing respect for me and what I accomplished in my career."