Randy Johnson became the sixth left-hander and 24th overall pitcher to win 300 games in his career, as the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 5-2. before a small, rain-soaked crowd that could not have numbered much more than a few thousand. The small crowd for such a historic day was shocking to see, but I guess considering the state of the Washington organization, the weather, and the time of day game was being held, I guess it hampered those who could have come out otherwise.
The historic day for Johnson was pushed back as violent storms passed through the Capital region on Wednesday, prompting a three hour, forty-two minute rain delay and eventually leading to the postponement of the game until the following afternoon.
Thursday’s crowd – announced at 16,787, but more than likely numbering in a few thousand – saw Johnson (5-4) go six strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and two walks. He struck out just two on the day, but relied on his defense to make several good plays behind him.
Johnson – who at 45 years old, 6-feet-11, and with a history of back issues – also made the highlight reel with a good defensive gem of his own. He knocked a comebacker down and scrambled to retrieve the ball, which had rolled toward second. The Big Unit reached down and flipped the ball to first – sprawling on the turf after the toss – to get Anderson Hernandez by half a step.
Johnson’s win was preserved by closer Brian Wilson. With two outs, the bases loaded and Washington down 2-1, Wilson had a 3-2 count on Adam Dunn, and he got a called third strike on a fastball that seemed to be a bit low that not only ended a rally, but the frame.
Dunn jumped out of the batter’s box and immediately attempted to plead his case to home plate umpire Rob Drake but could not plead his case.
San Francisco scored three times in the ninth off Joel Hanrahan – who could not get a single out, and in the bottom of the inning, Wilson would strike out the side to end the historic day. After the game, Johnson, in a picture scripted for a move ending – well, perhaps with more people in the stands – embraced his teammates, family, friends, on the field.
Before he walked into the dugout, he tipped his cap and acknowledged the fans for a little more than a minute that braved the miserable conditions outside to see perhaps the last 300-game winner in a generation, if not for posterity.
Jordan Zimmermann (2-3) – who started the game on the mound for Washington – took the loss, but pitched a respectable game as he went six innings and only allowed two runs. The runs were allowed in the second inning thanks to back-to-back RBI’s from Juan Uribe and Emmanuel Burriss.
Overall, the Washington offense was quiet as they only mustered four hits on the day.
06-04-09: Randy Johnson Wins #300, San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals
