Notes

Ozzie Guillen and Michael Tucker played big roles in the Braves’ victories in Games 4 and 5 of the championship series.

Guillen, a reserve shortstop, replaced struggling Walt Weiss in the leadoff spot and at shortstop, stirring things at the top of the lineup. Guillen had four hits--including a run-scoring single--in 10 at-bats during the two games with a run.

Tucker, an everyday outfielder, hit a momentum-swinging, three-run home run against Padre ace Kevin Brown in Game 5. He had five RBIs, one fewer than the NL championship series record.

But to the San Diego Padres’ surprise, Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox pulled them from the starting lineup because they bat left-handed. Playing the percentages against Padre left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, Cox went with the switch-hitting Weiss and Danny Bautista, who bats right-handed.

The results?

Weiss was hitless in two at-bats with two walks. Bautista was hitless in two at-bats and committed a two-run error in the Padres’ five-run sixth.

Tucker walked while pinch-hitting for Bautista in the seventh and flied out for the final out of the series.

“You’re obviously happier when you don’t see [Guillen and Tucker] in there because of what they’ve done against us,” Towers said. “But Bobby was playing guys who have contributed for him in those types of situations all year.”

*

Left-hander Tom Glavine doesn’t know what the Braves should do next.

“We won 106 games, we pitched well, we scored and we caught the ball,” the frustrated starting pitcher said. “Where do you point the fingers?” . . . Glavine became the only pitcher to lose eight games in championship series play. After being 0-2 in this series, he is 3-8 in 12 championship series starts in the ‘90s.