Paul Maholm Spins Three-Hit Shutout In 4-0 Braves Win

In only his second start as a Brave, Paul Maholm made sure it was one to remember as the left-hander dominated the Mets for nine innings Friday night at Citi Field in front of a crowd of 25,101.

Throwing no pitches over 89 miles per hour, Maholm allowed only three hits and no walks while striking out five in what was his fourth career shutout and his first since 2011. He needed only 95 pitches to take care of New York, and sat at only 61 pitches after six innings of work.

Maholm got some early run support thanks to a big-time home run from Jason Heyward in the first inning. Heyward launched a 94-mile per hour fastball from Mets starter Matt Harvey into the stands to give Maholm a two-run lead.

Heyward's homer was his 19th of the season, setting his career high and breaking his old record of 18 from 2010.

That was all the support Maholm needed, but Dan Uggla decided to add a little insurance in the eighth inning via the home run ball as well.

After a Freddie Freeman single, Dan Uggla continued his recent resurgence with a two-run shot to left field off of Josh Edgin. His homer put Atlanta up 4-0 and that's how the game would end.

The story of course though was Maholm, as he rarely ventured into troubled and received some defensive help when he did. Juan Francisco flashed the leather, as did Michael Bourn in robbing Jason Bay of a hit in the sixth. Paul Janish managed to dodge a bat and to make a play to end the sixth as well.

This was the second time New York has been shutout in 2012, with the first one coming by Brandon Morrow in Toronto.

It was an incredible performance from Maholm, who aggressively pounded the strike zone and found success even with only two swing and misses on the night.

So far, so good for Frank Wren's newest pitching acquisition.