BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Phillies Kick Back, Enjoy the Party : National League: Braves will have to overcome 3-2 deficit for second time in three seasons to win pennant.

PHILADELPHIA —  What were the odds that the Atlanta Braves would lose two games at home to the Philadelphia Phillies, be down 3-2 in the National League playoffs, and be here today, facing elimination?

Probably about the same as the Phillies’ being one victory away from the World Series.

“A lot of things were said about this club, about how we are not supposed to be on the same field as the Atlanta Braves,” Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi said. “But this team never quits. And we are a team. These guys have played as hard as any group I’ve had.”

The Braves, with a penchant for postseason theatrics, have seemingly met their match. The team that doesn’t quit has met another one, but there is a big difference in approach.

To the Braves, this playoff is a mission. Missing have been the rally caps, the impish grins, the emotion. Briefcases would seem more suitable for them to be carrying than gloves.

To the Phillies, it’s something quite different. They’re at a weeklong party--as the bouncers.

“If someone walks up and shoots you in the head, you die quick,” said John Kruk, referring to the three squeakers his team has pulled out. “But if someone poisons you and draws it out, it’s more painful.”

Regardless, nobody is counting the Braves out. Only two clubs in National League playoff history have overcome a 3-2 deficit, and Atlanta is one of them. The Braves beat Pittsburgh in 1991 in Pittsburgh, and this team is probably better than that one. They also had the best road record in the majors this season, and have a Cy Young Award winner to pitch tonight and Thursday, if there is a tomorrow for them.

Greg Maddux will pitch for the Braves tonight against Tommy Greene of the Phillies. Maddux, a favorite for a second consecutive Cy Young Award, held the Phillies to two runs over seven innings in Game 2. Greene crumbled early in that game, giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Game 7 would put Tom Glavine against Terry Mulholland, whom the Braves beat in Game 3.

But the Braves’ starting pitching hasn’t been their problem. Since outscoring the Phillies, 23-7, in Games 2 and 3, to take a 2-1 lead, the Braves have stopped hitting. Until the ninth inning Monday, the Phillies had shut them out for 15 consecutive innings. With runners in scoring position, David Justice is hitting .176 and Ron Gant .217. Only Fred McGriff and Terry Pendleton have been consistent, hitting safely in all five games.

The Phillies’ three victories have been by one run each, whereas the Braves have won by lopsided scores. They have outscored the Phillies, 30-17. It was supposed to be the other way around.

“If you would have told me at the beginning of the series that we’d win by one run and they’d have blowouts, I would have said you are crazy,” said Fregosi, whose team scored the most runs by far in the league.

The Braves rallied in the ninth inning to tie two of the games, but lost each of them in the 10th. But that is consistent with their record in one-run playoff games--5-13.

“I don’t understand it. We could have made it easy on ourselves, but we don’t know how to do anything the easy way,” Otis Nixon said.

The four Braves’ starters have a combined earned-run average of 2.16 in 33 1/3 innings, but only Kent Mercker and Mike Stanton have been effective in relief. The Braves have lost both games in which Steve Avery has started, despite his 2.77 ERA. They lost the game John Smoltz pitched, and he didn’t give up any earned runs.

Rookie closer Greg McMichael has given up three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings for an 8.10 ERA and lost Game 1. Mark Wohlers has given up two homers to Lenny Dykstra, one of those costing him Game 5.

The West Division title was the San Francisco Giants’ to lose, and they lost it. The league pennant was considered the Braves’ to lose, and they may be well on their way to losing it.

“You can only get in these situations so many times,” Jeff Blauser said. “We’re used to it, but you don’t want to be doing this too often.”