Well, it's finally here: the fifth anniversary of the most significant game in my baseball-watching career. No, it's not the Royals-Orioles game that was my very first game, nor is it the Royals-Cardinals interleague game that turned into a blowout, nor is it my first playoff game between the Rangers and the Rays, nor is Game 4 of the 2010 World Series that was my first Fall Classic game, nor is it my second World Series game where Albert Pujols hit his three home runs, nor is it my first time going to an Opening Day game. No, the most significant game that I have ever seen with my own eyes was a seemingly meaningless mid-season game between the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals, who would finish with the worst record in baseball. Yet while the game does not have any particular playoff implications, it was important for one crucial reason: it was the game where Randy Johnson became the 24th pitcher to win 300 games. As somebody with a curious interest in the 300-win milestone, getting to see this achievement definitely resonates with me.
And yet time has not stood still since the ecstasy of that rainy June day. It has been five years since the milestone, and life continued to go on. Randy Johnson himself has retired and now spends his days active in another field, that of a photographer*. Many of his teammates and opponents have also called his quits. His catcher, Bengie Molina, retired after 2010 and now spends his time as the Rangers' first base coach. Outfielder Randy Winn also retired after 2010 without ever sniffing the post-season. Shortstop Edgar Renteria won the 2010 World Series MVP award, but hasn't played since 2011. And so on and so forth. My life has changed quite a bit as well, as I entered medical school only a month after the game, and now I find myself completing my first year of residency.
*In fact he's celebrating this milestone while being in Vietnam for a photo shoot.
Meanwhile the 300-win milestone remains as elusive as ever. Many people with aspirations for the milestone find themselves falling short. Jamie Moyer did set the record for oldest pitcher for oldest pitcher to win a game, but his 2012 comeback ended with him only getting 269 wins. Andy Pettitte had a comeback of his own, but dealt with numerous injuries and he retired with 256 wins. And Roy Halladay, one of the two with the brightest chances, found himself dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness and retired with only 203 wins. There are a few with decent shots, such as CC Sabathia who has 208 wins at 33 but has been dealing with fading velocities, and Mark Buehrle who is a year older and has only 196 wins but has been pitching better than he's ever been. Only time will tell whether these men are legit contenders or pretenders.
But while we wait for the next 300-game winner, let us continue to celebrate those that have reached the milestone. It is the fifth anniversary of Randy Johnson's 300th win and as is customary I've been doing things to celebrate it. I've already done a write-up back in the six month and first anniversary*, and a shorter one on the third anniversary. The fouth anniversary celebration was one where I presented the 300-game winners and their gravesites if I've visited. I thought about what I should do to honor the fifth anniversary, and I eventually decided upon transcribing the CSN Bay Area commentary from the game featuring the award winning broadcast team of Duane Kuiper (Kuip) and Mike Krukow (Kruk).
Take it away, Kruk and Kuip...
NOTE: If you want to follow along and watch it in its entirety, you can always buy the game off of the iTunes store. (Scroll down to 6/4/09)
*Links to those write-ups
Part One: The Introduction
Part Two: The Player
Part Three: The Set-Up
Part Four: The Rainout
Part Five: The Game
Part Six: The Aftermath
Game Highlights
The Wins of Randy Johnson
Top of the 1st
Kuip:
…a couple of weeks. And the fact that he is on a hot streak does coincide with him batting first in the lineup. Here's the first pitch of the ballgame. And a swing and a miss, so we get underway. 5:12 first pitch, here on a Thur...late Thursday afternoon. And Zimmermann now deals to Rowand, and Rowand takes high. One ball and one strike.
Kruk:
Zimmermann works right in the middle of the rubber, slightly to the right side, I guess. But I...I always thought that was a pretty good idea to work towards the middle because if you had to make an adjustment you can go left or right. So many times you see guys they exaggerate where they put their foot. They'll get way to the third base side, way to the first base side.
Kuip:
Out of play.
Kruk:
And if you get way to one side of the rubber, I mean, you really can't make an adjustment during the course of a ballgame if your release point is off.
Kuip:
Jordan likes to work very fast. And Rowand fouls it out of play. This is also a game where managers will man...manage this one differently. They will manage, at least at the beginning, like this is gonna be a five inning game.
Kruk:
That's how you have to do it. Try and put some runs on the board early.
Kuip:
Two balls and two strikes. Renteria to follow, and then Randy Winn.
Kuip:
Rowand fights off another fastball, and it stays two and two.
Kruk:
If you're at the ballpark right now, you got a great chance of getting a foul ball. Not a lot of fans here in attendance because of the problems with the weather. This guy, however, gamer. Got his glove, good fold in his hat, got his baggy strapped on his bod. He's good to go.
Kuip:
Got him.
Kruk:
Front door slider.
Kuip:
So that's how this game gets started, Rowand gets caught looking
Kruk:
Set up the outside corner. This thing it backs up or comes in on the front side of the plate and Rowand freezes, cost him an at bat. It's better than being good right there, though.
Kuip:
Renteria hitting .245, a couple of home runs, 23 driven in. And he fights the first one off and hits it out of play
Kuip:
Randy Johnson waiting patiently. He's been waiting since yesterday.
Kruk:
Now we're going to find out just who the good mudders are today. Last night, about...almost two inches of rain dumped on this field. There was a lot of standing water. We have not seen any of the standing water today, but it is still very wet conditions in the outfield and the infield
Kuip:
Renteria down looking.
Kruk:
95 mile an hour fastball that has a little movement that comes back to the plate and hits Wil Nieves the catcher right between the knees. Great pitch. Tim Timmons, the plate umpire, I mean, he's a good umpire. He likes the low strike. He will give you some width, but you have to earn those wide strikes by lettin' him know that you can have control of your pitches. Has a pretty consistent strike zone. Good ball and strike guy
Kuip:
Here's Giants right fielder Randy Winn. .283, a couple of home runs, 21 driven in. He's two for three lifetime against Zimmermann with a double.
Kuip:
And Randy Winn got jammed as he fouls that one straight back. Two balls and one strike. Bengie Molina is on deck.
Kruk:
Jordan Zimmermann is not wasting any time. You mentioned he likes to work a quick pace, but right now, I mean, he can't get off that mound fast enough.
Kuip:
Three and one.
Kruk:
You like playing the guys...behind guys like that?
Kuip:
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Don't have to waste a whole lot of time trying to get set after each pitch.
Kuip:
Three and two.
Kruk:
Excellent three-one pitch. With two seam fastball grip, movement, running away from the left handed hitter, plants it right at the knee, outside corner.
Kuip:
Foul down the left field line, and a souvenir. Guy tried to make a one-handed catch, and it cost him.
Kuip:
Randy Winn went three for five on Tuesday.
Kuip:
On the ground to Nick Johnson. Johnson flips to Zimmermann and that will end the inning. A one-two-three inning for Jordan Zimmermann. Randy Johnson coming out. Nothing-nothing.
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Bottom of the 1st
Kuip:
No score as we head to the home half of the first inning here in Washington DC as Randy Johnson with his warmup pitches. Here's the Nationals lineup brought to you by Southwest Airlines. It will be Gonzalez, Johnson, Zimmerman, and then Adam Dunn, who's not done that well against the Big Unit. Seven strikeouts in twelve at bats. Elijah Dukes will hit fifth, then it's Kearns, Belliard, Nieves, and Zimmermann.
Kruk:
All right, what do you say we take a look at the Giants defensively behind the Big Unit. It will be Lewis, Rowand, and Winn, that's your outfield. On the left side of the infield, Renteria and Uribe. Burriss, Ishikawa will patrol the right side of the infield. And Bengie Molina, well, he'll be in the SQUAT putting down the fingers for the gentleman on the hill: Randy Johnson.
First pitch to Gonzalez is a called strike. Gonzalez hitting .291 with a home run, seven driven in. He's never faced Randy Johnson before.
Kruk:
Numbers for Randy Johnson, making his eleventh start this year. Four and four with a 5.71 ERA with 54 strikeouts against 19 walks. He'll four and two seam the fastball, and bread and butter's always been that great slider. And he'll give you a...an indication of how he's gonna do that night just by looking at the slider and whether or not it's got tilt on it. If it runs flat he usually struggles. If it's got downward bite to it, he's gonna have a good night. His fastball go anywhere from 90 to 94 miles per hour, more 90s than 94s. And he'll also throw a split finger fastball on occasion. 45 years old, 6'10", 225 pounder.
Kuip:
Off his fist, on the ground to Renteria. One out.
Kruk:
That sounded like it felt good.
Kuip:
You know, I was watching...the first pitch Randy Johnson threw he was really pleased with it. And then either the league or the Nationals, they threw the ball out. And I don't think he was that thrilled about it.
Kruk:
Well...he had brought that one in from the bullpen. It had a couple of nice little scuffs in it.
Kuip:
Ah, felt pretty good with that ball, and now they're gonna throw…toss...toss it out, and put it...somewhere.
Kuip:
Here's Nick Johnson, who takes a ball. One ball and no strikes.
Kruk:
That's good tilt on the slider.
Kuip:
.328 for Johnson, four home runs, 26 driven in. One for five lifetime against Randy Johnson. Two and oh.
Kruk:
A high sidearm, low three quarter release. The key for him is to have high hand position so that he can get his hand behind the ball and give that breaking ball or fastball some drive.
Kuip:
Rowand dives and makes the catch! Nice play, Aaron Rowand. Two down here in the first inning
Kruk:
Boy, he almost got handcuffed by this ball in center field. The ball slicing away from him. Going down and does a...a back-hander. And I mean, you're talking about a complete back-hander. He really had to turn that ball in to snag it. Nice play.
Kuip:
Very nice play.
Kuip:
Here's Zimmerman. Zimmerman hitting .322. 11 home runs, 37 runs batted in. If you look at these Nationals' averages, they're all pretty good. And they all very productive as well as that's hit up the middle. And Emmanuel Burriss from behind the bag, and the inning is over.
Kruk:
Hit his hand.
Kuip:
Johnson looking at his hand as he comes off. Nothing-nothing
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Top of the 2nd
Kuip:
Here it's nothing-nothing as we head to the top of the second inning.
Kuip:
Bengie Molina will lead things off. Zimmermann a very nice first inning. And Molina looks at a strike. 0 for five on Tuesday for Bengie Molina.
Kuip:
Fouls this one out of play.
Kruk:
Giants need to get Bengie Molina going. He has been in a big league scuffle, lost about 80 points on his battin' average.
Kuip:
Nick Johnson will watch this one sail into the seats. This is the ground ball that just caught a finger or two, as Mike noticed.
Kruk:
Comebacker, it hit him, it look like…in the…in the bottom...two fingers of his left hand. But a tip, if you get hit in the hand or the fingertips, you walk off, grab your glove. It will take some of the sting out of your hand. And he does indeed do that, an old trick. But as he got back into the dugout, Dave Groeschner, the Giants' trainer, came over to check it out, and he didn't seem to have any ill effects. As I mentioned, it...it looked to me like it was his ring finger and little finger. And that's not as bad as the forefinger and middle finger.
Kuip:
And Bengie Molina out swinging, one out here in the second inning.
Kruk:
Right now Jordan Zimmermann is on fire. Four up, four down, three strikeouts. And he is hitting some knee-high location with great consistency and great velocity. You see Nieves tap the ground, and, I mean, that is a perfect pitch, knee high at 95.
Kuip:
Here's Fred Lewis.
Kruk:
The guy's throwing 95 mile an hour darts at you, it's...it's a rough night. You don't even need to throw another pitch, and he hasn't thrown many other than fastballs
Kuip:
Lewis hitting .275 with three home runs, eight driven in.
Kuip:
Travis Ishikawa to follow. Lewis went one for four Tuesday night.
Kuip:
Hits the inside corner, now it's two and two. Another dart. Ishikawa, Travis Ishikawa to follow. And Lewis fights this off to see another pitch
Kruk:
Well, that's the thing the Nationals like about this guy. He's got the high velocity fastball with some movement that he understands. He could four seam and two seam the ball and he's got a very compact motion.
Kuip:
Lewis shoots one into left field. That's a base hit. Lewis with a wide turn, and now he gets halfway and puts on the brakes. Scurries back.
Kruk:
Love to see that big turn. Gets the ball up just a little bit and out over the plate. They wanted to target middle in and it went out over the plate. And Lewis, who's a good opposite field hitter, with the high fastball…throws a little first base hit out to c…left center. But I'll tell you what, when he ran in to first base he was sniffing maybe a...a chance to get to two. That's how you're supposed to do it.
Kuip:
Here's Ishikawa. Outside. Travis Ishikawa had a pretty good homestand where he upped his average to .262. Also on that homestand hit his first home run of the year. He's got 15 runs batted in. Played against Zimmermann...when the Nationals were in town. And he went two for three. Outside corner, one ball and one strike.
Kuip:
Lewis with...speed. He does not go and Ishikawa fouls it out of play. Fred Lewis right now fast but maybe not base-stealing fast.
Kruk:
First changeup that we've seen Zimmermann throw, and it was a good one.
Kuip:
Lewis with four stolen bases this year. He's been throw out three times. One and two to Travis Ishikawa.
Kruk:
Well, I think that's where Fred Lewis is gonna get better as he…the more he plays. The more his jump in the outfield and on the basepaths go.
Kuip:
Lewis goes and look out. Right...right over the Giants' dugout.
Kruk:
Well watch the feet in super slo-mo as he lifts the right foot up, pushes off with the left. Stay on your toes when you're runnin', and now put on the brakes with the foul ball.
Kuip:
One and two to Ishikawa. And Ishikawa fights another one off.
Kruk:
I'll tell you, right now Zimmermann is pounding the corners.
Kuip:
Last pitch was at 93, according to the…the readings on the radar gun here at the ballpark. And another one-two pitch. And this is hit on the ground, a fair ball. Right over the bag and Lewis is on the move. It hits that short side wall. And now...Freddy Lewis turned his ankle as he rounded the bag as he limps back into third. Tim Flannery did a late throw-up of the hands.
Kruk:
Little breaking ball that hangs out there mid-thigh. And Travis Ishikawa, with a two-strike swing, rakes it past Nick Johnson. Actually he did get a piece of it...
Kuip:
He did.
Kruk:
...so it spits off his glove. And Fred Lewis as...rounds the bag. A little bit of a slip right there with his left foot. You can get an idea just how wet things are here.
Kuip:
Here's Juan Uribe, who did not face Zimmermann...when he started against the Giants in San Francisco, stands in with runners at second and third
Kuip:
And...Zimmermann gets the call. It's oh and one.
Kruk:
You know, right now with Zimmermann you have to guess in or out, 'cause he's not making any mistakes out over the middle of the plate. He's carving turkeys.
Kuip:
Ground ball to second or short would give the Giants a run.
Kuip:
Top of the second, nothing-nothing. Zimmermann, the high set. And a shot, and it's gloved by Belliard. A run's gonna come in. And a nice play by Belliard and an RBI for Juan Uribe. It's one-nothing Giants.
Kruk:
Well, that's the big leagues all the way around. It was good at bat to get the ball up the middle of the ground from Uribe. Nice play, as you mentioned from Belliard. And Fred Lewis at third base with a good jump. Going on contact with anything up the middle. Belliard never even thought about home, takes the one out.
Kuip:
Here's Emmanuel Burriss. Kid playing at home hitting .271. Swiiiing and a miss, no balls and one strike.
Kuip:
Burriss, one for four on Tuesday, hit three balls in the air, and was out. Hit one ball on the ground and picked up a base hit. Right now he's a little tardy and it's nothing and two. These guys have been hitting in the cage now for two days, and it almost looks like some of them just realized they're out of the cage.
Kruk:
Yeah, he's gotta take the bat donut off right now against Zimmermann, because he has been late on both swings.
Kuip:
And he hits this one up the middle for a base hit. Here comes Ishikawa, it's two-nothing, and the donut came off the bat.
Kruk:
Well, for Manny Acta, the skipper of the Nationals, you're kind of…shaking your head. I mean, you wanna let Zimmermann throw to Burriss. He been pitching well this game. You got the pitcher on deck. And you're thinking, well, if I can get this out here we can lead the next inning off with Randy Johnson. And on an oh-two mistake. That is a T-ball location, fastball right out over the middle. And Emmanuel Burriss does what you're supposed to do with a location mistake, make the pitcher pay.
Kuip:
Here's Randy Johnson. Johnson is one for 15.
Kuip:
And it's oh and two.
Kuip:
And that oughta do it. So the Giants pick up two on three hits. They strand one. We will head to the bottom of the second, two-nothing Giants.
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Bottom of the 2nd
Kruk:
All right, here's our Chevron Unsurpassed Performance. We got back to May 18, 2004. Randy Johnson on the hill for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves. And what did he do that night? He threw a perfect game against the Braves. Only one member of the three hummer…of the 300-win club has ever pitched a perfect game, and that would be Cy Young. And that was the last pitch. What better way to end it? That's our Chevron Unsurpassed Performance.
Kuip:
Here's Adam Dunn, followed by Elijah Dukes and then Austin Kearns. Two-nothing Giants. Dunn hitting .269. He's got 16 big flies. He's got 42 runs batted in.
Kuip:
Two balls and no strikes. One for 12 against Randy Johnson with seven strikeouts. But the one thing he'll do is he'll take pitches. He'll work pitchers. Strikes out a lot, he walks a lot, and he hits the ball far a lot. Three and oh.
Kuip:
There's a strike. Giants with the overshift. Burriss is playing in shallow right field.
Kruk:
Noticed Randy Johnson after throwing those pitches is kind of squeezes his throwing hand. We'll see if his fingers are still stinging from that deflection that ended the first inning. It'll stay with you for a while.
Kuip:
Three and two to Dunn. Got him!
Nice comeback. The three two slider was...great tilt. You look at the…you talk about the keys for Randy Johnson, it's the slant on the breaking balls. It's got to have downward bite. And that was outstanding snap. He calls his slider Mr. Snappy, it has been probably one of the best strikeout pitches in the history of the game. And a nice comeback after falling behind three and oh.
Kuip:
Here's Elijah Dukes. Dukes in center field this afternoon. Swings and fouls it back. He's big and he takes a wicked hack.
Kruk:
Yeah, Elijah Dukes does not lack for strong. And there aren't many people in the league that can stay with Adam Dunn in batting practice. This guy can stay with him.
Kuip:
Swing and a miss. Now it's nothing and two. He's one for three lifetime against Johnson with a double.
Kuip:
Austin Kearns to follow. Fastball is high. One and two.
Kuip:
Nationals won on Tuesday night. That snapped a six game losing streak...as Dukes shoots this one back and out of play. They are 8 and 16 at home. However, against the National League West, they're over .500. They're five and four.
Kuip:
Another one-two offering to Dukes. Outside, two and two.
Kruk:
Trying a split.
Kuip:
Hit on the ground to Uribe. Two outs.
Kruk:
It's great to watch an old pitcher prep out his mound before he starts to do his work. Randy Johnson no exception. He'll go out there and get his plant foot hole just...just about right, dig it out a little bit. It's tough at times 'cause these mounds are so hard, so compact with...with clay...to get your spot right.
Kuip:
Here's Austin Kearns. Swiiiing and a miss. Are these the three biggest guys in a row in baseball?
Kruk:
In the history of the game.
Kuip:
I...I...I don't know about the history...
Kruk:
You do not want to fight this Nationals team. I mean, it's two in the booth too. Fight breaks out here, you got Rob Dibble.
Kuip:
Yeah...fo...Rob Dibble is next door with Bob Carpenter. Ah...yeah, I'm sure you got Carpenter.
Kruk:
Oh, we're gonna wrassle.
Kuip:
Kearns strikes out swinging. Second strikeout for Randy Johnson. We played two, and it's two-nothing Giants.
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Top of the 3rd
Kruk:
Well fans, June 15 vs. the Angels is Autism Awareness Night. A 20-dollar special event ticket gets you a seat in the special Autism Awareness section and a limited edition Will Clark jersey T-shirt. Proceeds from each ticket sold benefits Autism Speaks and Athletes Against Autism. For tickets call 415-972-2298 or visit sfgiants.com slash special events.
Kuip:
Zimmermann to Rowand, and Rowand pops this one up, and it will be out of play. Two-nothing Giants. Rowand struck out looking to lead off the ballgame
Kruk:
Yeah, you were talking about how difficult it is for a pitcher, a starting pitcher especially...to be able to deal with delays, and uh...rain delays. And then you start talking about other bodies in...in the clubhouse, oh you know, guys who could be a little hyper.
Kuip:
Zimmerman...to Johnson
Kruk:
And may not handle those long delays too well. Well, Aaron Rowand. You named him and that was right on the head.
Kuip:
Well, I mean, only because we...we know his personality. He has to be doing something, and it has to be baseball related. So that means as a hitter, you can't shag fly balls in the clubhouse.
Kruk:
Nope.
Kuip:
You c...you can't shag 'em in the cage.
Kruk:
No.
Kuip:
But you can hit. And he's hit for the last two days.
Kruk:
Oh yeah, he'll hit for four hours, not a problem.
Kuip:
Renteria waves at a pitch, it's one ball and one strike.
Kruk:
You know, about three weeks ago, when...when Rowand was trying to dig out of his slump, that's how he did it. He would get to the ballpark, and literally he would hit for a couple of hours a day. We get to the ballpark about four o'clock, and we'd see him, and he was wringin' wet coming out of the cage.
Kuip:
Just outside to Renteria who got caught looking, like Rowand, in the first.
Kruk:
Aaron Rowand was wearin' out some batting practice pitchers. Wearin' 'em out!
Kuip:
High and foul and out of play. It's two and two.
Kuip:
Full count now to Edgar Renteria with Randy Winn to follow. Well the coffee guy's always gonna be popular in this climate. And he got him for the second time.
Kruk:
Right now Edgar Renteria is not pickin' him up. Well, Giants baseball is brought to you by Verizon Wireless, America's largest mobile to mobile calling family, Verizon Wireless.
Kuip:
Two outs, here's Randy Winn. Randy Winn bounced out to Nick Johnson in the first inning. Here he looks at a strike.
Kruk:
D'you like hitting off guys with quick paces?
Kuip:
You know, I liked playin' behind 'em and I liked hittin' against them. I mean, you can get into a rhythm both ways.
Kruk:
I like pitchin' against a guy that had a quick rhythm. I mean, you get right back at it, and you can definitely feed off each other.
Kuip:
Another ground ball to Nick Johnson, and Randy Winn is 0 for two, two ground balls to the Nationals first baseman. Two-nothing Giants.
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Bottom of the 3rd
Kuip:
All right, here's our poll question this afternoon. To vote, log on to CSNBayArea.com. Who's the best pitcher ever to suit up for the San Francisco Giants? A couple of guys you may have heard of. Marichal, Perry, Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, Warren Spahn. For exclusive video and blogs, go to CSNBayArea.com, and we'll have the poll results after the ballgame on Giants Postgame Live.
Kuip:
Here's Belliard. Belliard looks at a strike. Hitting .174 with a couple of home runs, seven driven in.
Kuip:
Belliard is the one National player that has the most at bats against Johnson lifetime. He's got 23. And this is slowly hit to Renteria. Renteria gets rid of it quickly. Two outs, or make that one out.
Kruk:
Well, that's how he ranks. 299 wins, uh, ranks him 24th all time. Strikeouts, rank number two, and, uh, I mean he probably can hang around and, uh, and get 5,000, possibly this year. It would be a...a very good year for him. But I mean, 5,714 strikeouts. Ah, that's going to hang for a while.
Kuip:
Yep.
Kruk:
Nolan Ryan. Wow.
Kuip:
Here's Wil Nieves, hitting .281 with nine runs batted in. Nieves hitting in that eighth slot, and he takes a strike on the inside corner, and it's oh and one. It may be that this afternoon Tim Timmons, the home plate umpire, is lookin' for strikes.
Kruk:
Well, in a weather situation like this, I think you have to as an umpire.
Kuip:
Slowly hit, Renteria, got him. Two down.
Kruk:
That's a nice play.
Kruk:
Let's take a look at our Firestone leaderboard, the 300-win club, tale of the tape. Well the tallest members, Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Gaylord Perry, all 6'4". The shortest, Pud Galvin, Mickey Welch. 5'8"! How about that!
Kuip:
Hmm.
Kruk:
I didn't know that.
Kuip:
Here's Jordan Zimmermann. 0 for 14 on the season.
Kuip:
There's a strike to even the count. Eight up, eight down for Randy Johnson.
Kruk:
I think Carlton's a little taller than 6'4".
Kuip:
Right back to where it came from. Side retired. That's an eight-pitch inning for Randy Johnson. We will head to the fourth, remains two-nothing Giants.
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Top of the 4th
Kruk:
Well, members from the 1989 National League pennant winning team will be featured in the Afternoon with the '89 Giants on Friday, June 12th. For more information visit jrgiants.org or call 1-877-JRGIANT. Players will participate in a panel discussion. Candy Maldonado, Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell, Roger Craig will all be there.
Kuip:
Here's Bengie Molina who falls behind oh and one. Molina struck out in the second inning. And it's nothing and two. Fred Lewis to follow, and then Travis Ishikawa.
Kuip:
Way outside. One ball and two strikes. Boy, there's a...a good list of former players coming in from that '89 team and I'll run down a couple of those...this inning. Mike mentioned Will Clark. Roger Craig, Down Baby, is gonna be here.
Kruk:
Can't wait to see him.
Kuip:
Kelly Downs, Dave Dravecky. The old third base coach, Bill Fahey.
Kruk:
Pooch!
Kuip:
The two-two pitch! And it's strike three called! And Molina out for the second time, that's six strikeouts.
Kruk:
Six strikeouts from Zimmermann, four have been called strike threes.
Kuip:
Here's our AFLAC Trivia question.
Duck
AFLAC!
Kuip:
Can you name the three pitchers to record their 300th career win with the Giants?
Kuip:
Fred Lewis got things going for the Giants with a one out single in the second.
Kuip:
Also, Atlee Hammaker. Mike LaCoss. Candy Maldonado. I'm just...not naming them all, just a few. Big Daddy's going to be here.
Kruk:
Ah, I can't wait to see Big Daddy.
Kuip:
Reuschel?
Kruk:
Rick Reuschel?
Kuip:
Donny Robinson.
Kruk:
Caveman.
Kuip:
And the get-back coach, Robby Thompson.
Kuip:
He's another one of those guys that I miss.
Kruk:
He was a good Giant, Robby Thompson. Look forward to seeing him. All those guys will be fun to see.
Kuip:
Two balls, two strikes. Lewis up the middle. Gonzalez, two outs.
Kruk:
You know, it's funny, how y...y...you don't talk to those guys for a long time, and then everybody gets back together. It's like you just left each other the day before. The talking is going 200 miles an hour. If you want to talk, you gotta raise your hand. And it's just a...a day, or a weekend, that just goes by so fast and the memories are so much fun to relive. Cause one guy will tell you something, and you'll th...remember something, and on and on it goes.
Kuip:
Travis Ishikawa doubled over Nick Johnson's glove in the second inning. I'm sure we'll see Bob Lurie
Kruk:
I hope we see Bob Lurie.
Kuip:
Bob and Connie Lurie.
Kruk:
Bob and Connie were great owners, big part of that group. Al Rosen, Al and his wife Rita.
Kuip:
Ishikawa lines it to left. Dunn moving over, and Dunn will put it away. Zimmermann with back to back one-two-three innings. It's two-nothing Giants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom of the 4th
Kuip:
All right, we asked the AFLAC trivia question, now we'll answer it. Can you name three pitchers? The name the three pitchers to record their 300th win with the Giants.
Duck
AFLAC!
Kuip:
I knew that.
Kruk:
Tim Keefe, Christy Mathewson, and Mickey Welch.
Kuip:
I did not know that.
Kruk
5'8". Hydrin right here. Hydrin.
Kuip:
Here's Gonzalez, who shortens up to bunt, and he takes a strike. Hydrin?
Kruk:
Yeah, Mickey Welch. He's like a second baseman pitching. 5'8", come on! Joe Morgan heighth.
Kuip:
Renteria takes his time. Ten up, ten down.
Kruk:
That's four times Edgar Renteria has had to make a play here on the first ten hitters.
Kuip:
Infielders don't mind the moisture in the dirt. They just don't like the moisture in the grass.
Kruk:
Why's that?
Kuip:
Well, most infielders like the...the infield to be a little moist anyway. They don't like it dry. You get a much purer hop. It's the...the grass, where if you grab a wet baseball, you just never know where it's gonna be, but it doesn't appear that's too much of a problem. At least not for Renteria.
Kruk:
He has picked it clean today.
Kruk:
Well, the tarp's been on the...on the diamond here all night long. Last night, the outfield was just a quagmire. There was so much water out there. Puddles everywhere, and I mean deep puddles, too.
Kuip:
Johnson fouls it back. It was Aaron Rowand who took a hit away from Nick Johnson in that first inning.
Kuip:
Foul back. We were talking, when Dunn, Dukes, and Kearns were hitting, about maybe the biggest three guys back to back to back in baseball. But...as we backed it up a little bit, Ryan Zimmerman's pretty good size.
Kruk:
6'3", 230.
Kuip:
And here's Nick Johnson, who's pretty good size.
Kruk:
6'3", 240.
Kuip:
Out of play.
Kruk:
I mean, that's a big baseball team.
Kuip:
So, we can just add two more to the list. Five.
Kruk:
Yeah, well, Mickey Welch can't be on that team.
Kuip:
But the Giants have their six foot ten lefthander out on the mound, it's one and two to Nick Johnson.
Kruk:
Yeah, the Giants are going to win the jump ball. But after that, I dunno.
Kuip:
As far as moving the ball down the field.
Kruk:
Ooh, good pitch.
Kuip:
That's very close, Johnson wanted it.
Kruk:
You know, that's a tough pitch for a guy with a low three-quarter release to be able...a lefthander, to be able to plant that inside pitch to a left-handed hitter. Now, Johnson has made three pitches in this at bat to Johnson, and they've all been right there. Those are good pitches.
Kuip:
Three and two.
Kruk:
Fastball really set that breaking ball up nice, because you're upset, you want to keep that in the strike zone.
Kuip:
Johnson with two strikeouts. He struck out Dunn and Kearns in the second. And the first base-runner for the Nationals is Nick Johnson.
Kruk:
This is the night...last night's rain we were talkin' about, and, uh, the area between the clubhouse and the dugout was...a pond. Now this is the field. Stan Kasten, the president of the Nationals, out there making a call. They really left it up to Randy Johnson, I mean, they tried to hang in there as long as they could for Randy Johnson to get his start. They respected that. Not often that a...a opposing pitcher will have something to say about the start time of a ballgame. But the historical significance of this ballgame is...is big. I mean, we don't know if we'll ever see another day like today.
Kuip:
Right.
Kruk:
Where a pitcher tries to win his 300th win.
Kuip:
Johnson out of the stretch for the first time. One ball and one strike to Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman hit one off the fingertips of Randy Johnson. He slowed it down just a little bit. Emmanuel Burriss made the play behind the bag at second. And that ended the first inning.
Kuip:
No swing. Two balls and one strike. Two-nothing Giants. Giants scored a pair of runs in the second.
Kuip:
Two and two.
Kruk:
That's a pitch. Zimmerman giving him a little...disagreement with his body language. He thought that pitch was a little bit low, but from a pitcher's perspective, absolutely perfect. Knee high, paint on the outside corner, a little movement running away from him. Nice frame job from Bengie Molina to nail down the strike. Go out there again, looking for a ground ball here.
Zimm
Fuck!
Kuip:
Randy Winn jogging in. He will put it away
Kruk:
You could hear Zimmerman leave the batter's box screaming as he ran down the first base line. And he just looked back at pate…at plate umpire Tim Timmons. And I'm sure he felt that the umpire made him swing at that pitch. And Randy Johnson, indeed, went right back to the same location. If an umpire's gonna give it to you, that's the location you want a hitter to try and have to cover. And, uh, Zimmerman not happy as he felt that, uh, his umpire cost him that at bat. Huh huh huh huh huh.
Kuip:
Here's Dunn, who struck out in the second.
Kruk:
Hitters...I love 'em.
Kuip:
Very high as Bengie Molina stabbed at that one before it got to the backstop, one ball and no strikes.
Kuip:
There's a strike. One ball and one strike.
Kuip:
Overshift is on with Burriss in shallow right field.
Kuip:
Popped him up. It's gonna be Travis Ishikawa between home and first out near the mound, and that ends the inning. Nationals have a baserunner. He's stranded. Fifth inning comin' up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top of the 5th
Kruk:
Two-nothing as we head to the top of the fifth inning. Uh...Jordan Zimmermann now gonna take his turn pitching to Juan Uribe. Uribe 0 for one on the day.
Kuip:
0 for one, however, the at bat, picked up an RBI. Very sharp ground ball to Belliard to knock in Fred Lewis. Here it's one ball and two strikes. Emmanuel Burriss to follow, and then Randy Johnson. There's a drive into center field. Dukes drifting back, and he will put it away.
Kruk:
Well, the weekend of June 12th through the 14th in AT&T Park, the Giants are going to take on the Oakland A's. And Friday the June 12th game, will be the 16th annual Until There's a Cure Day presented by eSurance, Gilead, and the Giants Community Fund. Saturday, June 13th will be 1989 Team Reunion presented by Diamond of California. And Sunday, June 14th will be AT&T Giants Annual Food Drive. First 5,000 fans who donate food will receive a Giants drink tumbler. You can also donate five bucks to qualify for that tumbler. And there's always the Giants-A's Wives pregame softball game you can check out. So go to sfgiants.com and check it out!
Kuip:
The one-oh to Burriss, and Burriss fouls it out of play. Burriss with a two-out RBI single in the second inning.
Kruk:
Yeah, that was a good at-bat. Oh-two.
Kuip:
Randy Johnson on deck.
Kruk:
49 pitches through four innings for Randy Johnson.
Kuip:
Nice play by Zimmermann.
Kruk:
Time now for our Ford Quality Drive, and for a guy who's been in the big leagues 21 years, here's his only home run. Randy Johnson taking Doug Davis deep in Milwaukee. We'll make that our Ford Quality Drive. Happened September 19, 2003. And the Big Unit has got himself a big fly.
Kuip:
In this game, he struck out in the second inning.
Kruk:
Smile, Smooth.
Kuip:
Lots of cameras here at the ballpark today.
Kruk:
His son today, an honorary batboy. Randy brought his whole family here into Washington. Lives just, uh, outside of Phoenix, in Paradise Valley.
Kuip:
Two balls and a strike. And it's three and one.
Kuip:
Three and two. Big Unit lettin' out the shaft three and one.
Kuip:
And strike three called to end the inning. Seven strikeouts for Zimmermann, we will now head to the sixth inning. It's an official game.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom of the 5th
Kruk:
All right, time for Subway - Eat Fresh, Ask Kruk and Kuip. Visit ComcastSportsnet.com, and ask us a question. We'll answer one a game. This from Handford from San Mateo. The question: "Why do some players, mostly pitchers, have one finger outside their glove?"
Kuip:
Mostly pitchers.
Kruk:
Because it HURTS to put it inside the glove!
Kuip:
I agree!
Kruk:
You put it outside the glove, you get another piece of leather between you and the ball, is off your forefinger. That's pretty much where you catch the ball, in the pocket of your glove every time.
Kuip:
I can't remember seeing a player now that doesn't have his fingers outside his glove.
Kruk:
There's a few, but those guys will always have...or usually always have. I guess you can't usually always have something.
Kuip:
This is out of play. I...I knew exactly what you meant.
Kruk:
But if they...if they have their hand inside the glove, they...they have a...a batting glove on, is what I was trying to get to.
Kuip:
But even with that, guys with batting gloves on, they still put their finger out.
Kuip:
This is Elijah Dukes. And the oh-one. Inside to even the count. Dukes bounced out to Juan Uribe at third. He did that in the second inning.
Kuip:
Outside, two balls and one strike. It will be Dukes, Kearns, and Belliard here in the fifth. It's a little early on the conclusion that this was an official game, as this is bounced back up the middle. And it will be a base hit, and the first of the game for the Nationals. Broken bat single past Randy Johnson.
Kruk:
Well, we've seen broken bat home runs this year, I guess you shouldn't be surprised at a broken bat single. One thing about the maple wood bats, they don't have to be...you can hit a maple bat right in the sweet spot, and still break your bat. Now that one got out a little bit towards the end of the bat, where you would see bats break like that, traditional white ash bats. But for Randy Johnson, the first hit that he has allowed today, and it's a broken bat single.
Kuip:
And he didn't miss it by much, and I'm sure he's quite disappointed that he didn't get to it. He'll go after Austin Kearns.
Kruk:
Well, he's vertically challenged. I mean, you know, grass cutters are not good plays for him to try and make. It's a long way to stoop.
Kuip:
Likes the high hoppers. Outside. This will be the third hitter that Johnson will face out of the stretch. One ball and no strikes.
Kuip:
And that pitch a bit high, now it's two and oh.
Kruk:
Well how close did he come to making a play on this comebacker? Close. You can see the bat winging right by him, as...I'm not sure he even knew the thing was coming his way.
Kuip:
This one gets away from Bengie Molina, and it's three and oh.
Kruk:
That ball really sailed across the plate and it sort of glove-tied Bengie Molina. Gotta be a passed ball.
Kuip:
That's what it is.
Kruk:
Well, sometimes a...a fastball will just have a mind of its own. And it will be unpredictable, as it will cut and sail at under 90 miles an hour and above, that can be a tough play for a catcher. But they lose the force at first.
Kuip:
Dukes now at second with nobody out. And the walk. Second walk issued, third baserunner in the game, and here's Belliard.
Kuip:
Belliard bounced out to Renteria in the third.
Kruk:
We've seen Randy Johnson throw as many as 120 pitches in an outing. But I think, realistically, at 45 years old, I think he's most comfortable right around the 100 pitch level in an outing.
Kuip:
Hit up the middle...BURRISS! THEY GET ONE! AND...THEY DONE IT! Emmanuel Burriss turns the double play!
Well the Giants players were all talking about it, playing in this game, when Randy Johnson's trying to make history, they want to make contribution. And this is a brilliant play, high backhand spear from the glove, a perfect feed to Renteria, who gets it over to Ishikawa. And instead of a base hit, first and third situation, two-one ballgame, nobody out, they get a double play, and that we wanna look at one more time. The defensive brilliance of the young second baseman, Emmanuel Burriss. What a play this is, and for Randy Johnson, you talking about a shot in the arm, this type of play will give it to you.
Kruk:
Oh yeah.
Kuip:
That's like saying 'I wanna give you a hug' right there.
Kruk:
'I love you man!' That's exactly what it said.
Kuip:
Nieves bounced out to Renteria.
Kruk:
A man hug.
Kuip:
Swiiiing and a miss. One ball and one strike.
Kruk:
And there's the reaction. 'Hey. I owe you kid, nice goin'.'
Kruk:
Saw Wil Nieves trying to tie this ballgame up on that one-oh count.
Kuip:
One ball and one strike. Make it one and two.
Kruk:
Now, Emmanuel Lo...Burriss has really done that since the first game of the season. There was a time when he was really cold with the bat. Bruce Bochy, the skipper, said, 'You know, you just keep playing with that glove, you do what you do, and the bat will keep coming. I'll keep throwing you in there.' And he has done it, with the glove all year.
Kuip:
On the ground to Burriss. And Johnson is gonna get out of the inning. And Randy Johnson walks off the mound, his family in attendance, and it's two-nothing Giants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top of the 6th
Kruk:
Well, June 16th is Irish Night. That's right, Irish Heritage Night. Giants taking on the Angels. A $20 special event ticket's gonna get you a seat in the special Irish Heritage section, and an Irish-themed Giants scarf will be yours. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Irish-based charities in San Francisco.
Kuip:
Zimmerman has it, does the 360. One out.
Kruk:
So don't miss Irish Heritage night. For tickets, go to sfgiants.com slash special events.
Kuip:
Rowand bounces out, here's Renteria.
Kruk:
Well so far Jordan Zimmermann has had Edgar Renteria talking to himself.
Kuip:
He has. He struck him out twice, both times looking.
Kruk:
And both times the looking strikes were right there.
Kuip:
Seven strikeouts for Zimmermann. Five of them have been looking. Now it's two and oh with Randy Winn on deck.
Kuip:
Renteria hits it...out of play, it's two balls and one strike.
Kruk:
Hey, you know what we have?
Kuip:
What do we have?
Kruk:
An official ballgame.
Kuip:
Correct.
Kruk:
I didn't think it was gonna be possible with the...
Kuip:
You waited, I didn't.
Kruk:
Heh heh heh. The home team was behind, they had to hit in the fifth.
Kuip:
Foul back, two and two.
Kruk:
Now wouldn't it be something if we can get both games in today. You never know. If you look around the area, believe me, we...we're here on top of the stadium so we have a great view of the surrounding area. Not a great year...view of the ballpark, but a great view of the surrounding area, and it looks like it…it can just open up any second.
Kuip:
Here's the two-two offering to Renteria, and he hits it on the ground to Zimmerman. And Ryan Zimmerman throws on to Johnson, two outs.
Kuip:
Well, the Capitol building is...fogged in.
Kuip:
Here's Randy Winn.
Kruk:
You saw president an' chief operating officer Larry Baer, here in attendance. Wanted to see the historical moment should it happen, if Randy Johnson were indeed to be the winning pitcher today.
Kuip:
Randy Winn has bounced out twice to Nick Johnson. Here he takes a first pitch ball down low. Randy Winn's average now right at .280. Zimmermann still with that good fastball, one ball and one strike.
Kruk:
Randy Winn, he's trying to control the tempo of the at bat. You got a young arm out there who's just rockin' and firing at rapid pace.
Kuip:
Foul territory. Nieves or Zimmerman, it's gonna be Zimmerman. And that'll end the inning. So another one-two-three inning for Jordan Zimmermann. Nationals are comin' up. It'll be Zimmermann to lead things off.
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Bottom of the 6th
Kuip:
Welcome back to the Coors light sixth inning, now it's time for the Coors Light Freeze Cam. A couple of terrific plays in this game. Aaron Rowand made a play in the first inning. And then the play of the game: Emmanuel Burriss with this four-six-three double play, and that saved Randy Johnson...in the fifth inning. Coors Light Freeze Cam, brought to you by frost-brewed Coors Light, the world's most refreshing beer.
Kuip:
Here's Anderson Hernandez pinch hitting. And Hernandez looks at a strike. So Zimmermann out of the ballgame. Up the middle. Johnson knocks it down. He'll recover, throw off balance...GOT HIM! And a nice play by Travis Ishikawa to hang in there.
Kruk:
Well we've seen Randy Johnson do this, where he'll f...swat a ball down and recover. And as he gets it, he'll throw off balance and then go right on the ground. You're right, good...nicely job there from Travis Ishikawa. We're gonna watch this in super slo-motion as the Big Unit gets after it. Not an easy play for a guy 6'10" to get unwound, but that's good athleticism, and a great play really when you consider the difficulty of the wet field, the wet ball. And, uh, nice pick from...from Ishikawa at first.
Kuip:
Here's Gonzalez, who looks at a strike and it's oh and one.
Kruk:
I mean, you see Randy Johnson make a play like that. We've seen him do that about three, four times this year. I mean, the guy's having fun playing baseball.
Kuip:
Indeed he is. Inside to even the count at a ball and a strike.
Kruk:
And he's downplayed the 300-win milestone on a number of occasions this year. Saying basically, you know, I wanna go beyond this, I mean, I wanna keep going.
Kuip:
Good slider. One and two.
Kruk:
67 pitches. One out here in the sixth. Talked to you about how he prepares for a game. And uh...he really, really gets a game plan.
Kuip:
Renteria smothers it. Renteria throws it, and it gets away from Ishikawa.
Kruk:
Curious to see who they give the error to on this. Kinda goes up...and...feel like he had good balance and a good grip. Kind it goosed it over there to Ishikawa. The ball went low. I'm sure that's one that Ishikawa thought he probably should have had.
Kuip:
On the the left on the aisle is Randy Johnson's wife Lisa. And then the three daughters are all there somewhere: Willow, Alexandria, and Samantha. Tanner, the Johnson's son, is the batboy today. There's Tanner.
Kuip:
Nick Johnson...takes a strike and it's oh and one. They've charged Edgar Renteria with the error.
Kuip:
Johnson has lined out and he's walked. Down low to even the count at a ball and a strike.
Kruk:
Couple of Northern Californians going at each other. Randy Johnson from Livermore, Nick Johnson from the Sacramento area.
Kuip:
One and two.
Kruk:
What a career this guy's had. The more you rank him as one of the best pitchers in the game, or the best pitcher in the game, depending on your argument. You have to agree upon one thing: he's got the greatest game face of all times.
Kuip:
There's the lefty 300 club.
Kruk:
If Randy Johnson wins this ballgame he will be the 24th pitcher to be in the 300-win club, and he'd be just the sixth left-hander to be in that club.
Kuip:
Caused a lot of guys to take days off. Into the alleyway left-center field. This could knock in a run. Lewis picks it up. Johnson's got a double, it's two to one. So the Nationals get on the board on the RBI double off the bat of Nick Johnson.
Kruk:
That's two strike hitting at its best. As a hitter, I mean, you wanna...expand, you wanna use the whole field. Th...this is Nick Johnson, why he's such a good hitter. It...the ball sails across the plate. They wanted to go inside on the fastball, goes out away. And he goes with the location, finds a gap, and from a two-strike perspective that's a heck of an at bat. That enables...Alberto Gonzalez to score all the way from first, and we got a...a different ballgame right now all of a sudden. And that's taking advantage of an error.
Kuip:
Here's Ryan Zimmerman. He's bounced out, he's flied out, and he takes a pitch just off the plate, oh and one, or make it one and oh.
Kruk:
This is a situation now for Randy Johnson with an open base, and really one of the hotter hitters in the league this year. Zimmerman has just been fantastic with the bat. He does not have to pitch him anything but corner pitches, and if you miss, miss off the plate. Do not miss out over the plate.
Kuip:
Renteria adjusted on that bouncing ball because he could see it was going to be an in-between hop. He gets the out at first, advancing to third is Nick Johnson. And here's Adam Dunn.
Kruk:
Good job there from Randy Johnson. If you...if a hitter's gonna hit a pitch, make it...a pitch that is in the...is in your location, one that favors you. One if he makes contact he's in all likelihood gonna put it on the ground.
Kuip:
Adam Dunn has struck out and he's popped out. Takes one up and in, one ball and no strikes. Bottom of the sixth inning, a run in for the Nationals.
Fan:
Come on, Adam!
Kuip:
Ishikawa will watch this one go by foul, one ball and one strike.
Kuip:
Big Adam Dunn, wide open stance. Pops it up. Uribe. He will squeeze it, and Johnson limits the damage. It's two to one Giants.
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Top of the 7th
Kruk:
Well, Saturday June 13th, in AT&T Park, the Giants and the A's are going to tee it off at 7:05. And be sure to come out early as the Giants honor the '89 team during a pre-game ceremony starting at 6:30. That's right, the National League champion 1989 team featuring Will Clark, Robby Thompson, Kevin Mitchell, Dave Dravecky, and of course the Humm Baby Roger Craig will be there as well. Don't miss seeing some of your favorite Giants from the past, presented by Diamond of California. Go to sfgiants.com for your tickets.
Kuip:
Ron Villone will be facing Bengie Molina in a two-one ballgame. And Molina pops this one up. And I think Nick Johnson's got a play. And on one pitch, Molina is retired. When it's time for a change, think SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up, your oil change, tune-up and smog experts.
Kruk:
The numbers for Ron Villone: 17 time he's taking the ball. Having a good season for Manny Acta. Three and 0, just thir...or...14 baserunners in 14 and 2/3 innings. And that is excellent. Villone much different pitcher now than when he first came into the big leagues.
Kuip:
He went an inning and two-thirds on Tuesday. And they were perfect innings with a couple of strikeouts. He's not given up an earned run this year.
Kuip:
Lewis holds up to even the count. Brandon Medders in the Giants pen.
Kuip:
Johnson on the backhand. Nice play, two down.
Kruk:
Boy, indeed, you want to talk about some soft hands. I mean when a ball comes up on a guy and it comes up to his backhand side and he stays with it, those are sweet hands. And this is exactly what this ball does. A two s...two-hop top-spinner, right to his backhand side, and he stays with it. I mean, that's a nasty ground ball right there.
Kuip:
Here's Travis Ishikawa.
Kruk:
Sweet hands Nick Johnson.
Kuip:
Swiiiiing and a miss, no balls and one strike. Medders is getting loose in the bullpen like he's coming in.
Kuip:
One ball and one strike.
Kuip:
Low to Ishikawa. A double for Travis Ishikawa in the second.
Kruk:
Talkin' about Villone being a different guy. He's a four pitch pitcher now. Fastball, curveball, slider, change-up. When he first came up he was mid to high 90s with the fastball. But much wilder with his control than he is now. Now he can th...can throw some darts. And his off to a great start.
Kuip:
Two and two. Travis Ishikawa trying to get something going after two outs. And it will not happen, and that ends the inning. It remains two-one Giants.
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Bottom of the 7th
Kuip:
Here in the nation's capital we've got Giants fans that...are hooting and hollering here in the seventh inning. Is that George?
Kruk:
Um...no.
Kuip:
No?
Kruk:
There's Abe and, uh, Teddy. Two-one Giants here in the bottom of the seventh.
Kuip:
What's that guy doing?
Kruk:
I don't even want to think about that.
Kuip:
Here's Brandon Medders facing Elijah Dukes, and it's one ball and no strikes.
Kruk:
Man, the numbers for Brandon Medders: 23rd time he has come into a game, two and one, a 2.78 ERA. He has been fantastic. 20 strikeouts in 22 and two-thirds innings.
Kuip:
Right there at the knees to even the count.
Kruk:
Fastball, cutter, split, curveball. I mean, he...he can mix it up. And he has been a strike-throwing machine.
Kuip:
Big breaking ball and a beauty.
Kruk:
That's a pitch that has been such a great weapon for him to steal strikes early in the count. He doesn't usually use that pitch to finish off a hitter, although he will at times. But he will use it to get a strike one first pitch of an at-bat. You saw it there at one-one where guys see that great big thing and give up on it, it just locks them up.
Kuip:
Fouls this one back.
Kruk:
And he can take some speeds off that big cur...curveball too. Throw that fastball right behind him and immediately Bengie Molina wants to talk to him about it. And I think the mess is, 'What yo, El Dude. It's one and two count. You need to be a little more fine with your control on that fastball. That was right out over the middle of the plate.'
Kuip:
Starting to rain a little bit again. Got him.
Kruk:
Curveball. For a relief pitcher the first strike you get, the first out you get are very soothing. And here's the payoff pitch. They set up away, it's a straight-downer on the inside part of the plate. Dukes unhappy at himself, and he takes a U-turn. Grab some pine, meat.
Kuip:
Here is Kearns, a strikeout and a walk. And on a high fastball, Kearns fouls it back, kind of a half-swing from Austin Kearns.
Kruk:
It's rare to see him get cheated on a swing. I mean that looked like a tennis backhand more than an Austin Kearns swing. He usually lets it go. Very strong. Right now it's not much fun for anybody. And I always thought the hardest thing about playing in the rain as a hitter was just listening to the raindrops hit your helmet.
Kuip:
Right on the corner to make it one and two.
Kruk:
For a pitcher the only worry you have, really, is footing. That mound out there which is mostly clay starts to slip on ya. Good pitch.
Kuip:
Two down.
Kruk:
He's got that curveball working today. He's using it for a kill pitch. And he has spun two beauts, one to Dukes and here to Kearns. Big fellow cannot check his swing.
Kuip:
Here's Belliard. And a high fastball. Belliard looked like he was gonna come up with a base hit in the fifth inning only to have Emmanuel Burriss pull off a terrific play. Burriss started a four-six-three double play.
Kuip:
Burriss through the raindrops puts it away, and Medders with a very nice seventh inning. We will head to the eighth, Giants lookin' for some insurance. It's two-one San Francisco.
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Top of the 8th
Kuip:
Here's our McDonalds game summary. The Giants hangin' on, they got a two to one lead. Randy Johnson went six innings, allowed a couple of hits, no earned runs. Two walks, two strikeouts. Uribe and Burriss both with RBIs. Zimmermann was outstanding. He allowed a couple of runs. He allowed them in the second inning. And Nick Johnson's got the RBI, an RBI double. He did that in the sixth inning after Edgar Renteria was charged with an error. That’s our McDonalds game summary.
Kuip:
Umpires got together in between innings as you see Mike MacDougal with his warm-up pitches.
Kruk:
Ah, MacDougal played with the Kansas City Royals. Just got called up from Syracuse. And down in Syracuse he was a bullpenner, has a couple of saves, 3.24 ERA in eight appearances. And, uh, from what we remember of MacDougal, I mean he had some pretty good sink on his fastball. And then you...you run it up there pretty good.
Kuip:
Here's Uribe. I remember, right, he was a closer for a while.
Kruk:
94 mile an hour sink. Yeah, we saw him in, uh, in Kansas City and he had like mid-90s sink, which is kind of rare in itself. Little slider to go with it. I don't remem...remember if he had a change-up or a split, we'll find out. But it's...I know it's impossible for him to throw the ball straight.
Kuip:
Just outside to Uribe. Burriss to follow, and then Brandon Medders after he threw the ball so well in the seventh. It may be that Medders is gonna be allowed to hit here in the eighth. Swing and a little pop up foul down the right field line and out of play. Uribe with a RBI on a sharp ground ball to Belliard in the second inning.
Kuip:
Rain's starting to come down a little harder. Uribe pops it up. It will be Nick Johnson. Johnson puts it away, one out.
Kruk:
MacNu...MacDougal's no puppy. I mean, he's been around for a while. He's 32 years old. He's got a little over five years of big league experience. This is 11th year in professional baseball.
Kuip:
Here's Emmanuel Burriss. So far nobody has come out to the on-deck circle for the Giants. On the ground to second, and Belliard will make the play. Two outs. And it i...s indeed gonna be Brandon Medders. It may have been that i...had the Giants had a baserunner or somebody in scoring position that Bruce Bochy would have then used a pinch hitter. But with two outs and nobody on, he lets Medders hit.
Kuip:
Look out.
Kruk:
I'm sure Medders enjoyed that. First at bat you get to take this year and somebody's gonna throw a 95 mile an hour snake that curls right up around your dome. 'Hey! Bee! Good to see you again! How ya been?' He'll bail on that last one.
Kuip:
S...s...strike...one ball and one strike.
Kruk:
Yeah...you...eh...eh...eh...b...watch his left foot here on...on every swing. I don't think he wants any part of this guy. This is not a fun at bat. MacDougal is...he can do that. I mean, he's 6'4", about 190 pounds, and every once in a while he'll let one go and it does this, it heat seeks right into a right-hander, and that is an ugly swing.
Kuip:
Medders says I'm gettin' outta here, and that ends the inning.
Kruk:
That was unfair.
Kuip:
Bottom of the eighth comin' up. It stays two-one Giants.
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Bottom of the 8th
Kuip:
Coming up tonight at 10:30 on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's SportsNet Central hosted by Dave Benz and Damon Andrews. Of course, they'll wrap up today's action between the Giants and the Nationals. They'll also have highlights from the A's and White Sox. And the NBA Finals Game One. All of that is going to happen tonight at 10:30 on SportsNet Central.
Kuip:
We got a whole bunch of Nationals grounds crew out on the infield as they are working to dry up the infield.
Kruk:
Ah, any time you can look down on the infield and see that it is shining you know that it's wet. So they go get the Turfus or the topical mixture they have to try to absorb some of that moisture. Now you pointed out something earlier. Infielders like a damp infield.
Kuip:
They do.
Kruk:
But you don't like damp grass.
Kuip:
No no no no no. No no no no no. Not unless you have four infielders that resemble Gaylord Perry.
Kruk:
Heh heh. The defense today, however, has been spectacular. Aaron Rowand puttin' on a great...catch early against Nick Johnson, but this was the play of the game. R...Ronnie Belliard hittin' a seed up the middle that...uh...Emmanuel Burriss gets. And then here Randy Johnson staying with a little comebacker that he deflects. So the Giants have had one miscue and it cost them a run: an error by Edgar Renteria in the sixth, but for the most part their defense has been sparkling.
Kuip:
Here's Nieves facing Medders, and Nieves with a big swing and foul back and it's oh and one.
Kruk:
First pitch cutter from Medders, good pitch. Now Wil Nieves likes that first pitch. Take advantage and start that cutter on the outside part of the plate, let it go off the plate away. And he will follow ya.
Kuip:
Cristian Guzman is on deck. That's the pitcher's spot. Down low, one ball and one strike. Giants scored two runs in the second. They have three hits in this game and they all came in the second inning. They have not had a baserunner since the second.
Kuip:
Driven into right center field, that will be a base hit.
Kruk:
Randy Johnson's outing today, six strong innings. Two hits allowed, he did not give up the first hit until the fifth inning. One run allowed, it was unearned. He walked two against a pair of strikeouts on the day. Just 78 pitches, he left the ballgame with a two-one lead after six.
Kuip:
Bruce Bochy's comin' out. He's gonna take the baseball from Brandon Medders. When it's time for a change think SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up, your oil change, tune-up and smog experts. Affeldt comin' in. We'll be back.
Kuip:
Two-one ballgame here in the eighth inning. The Nationals with their leadoff hitter on, Wil Nieves. And Jeremy Affeldt now comes in to the ballgame with these numbers.
Kruk:
There you see the workload that he has had for the Giants this year. 20th time he's taken the ball, 23 and a third innings. He has been used as a specialist in occasions, but really has been very consistent with tremendous stuff. A mid 90s fastball and just a disappearing curveball, it has been his forte. You see the numbers, it's been all good. He...he'll try to come in here and pour some water on this...Washington Nationals team.
Kuip:
Guzman is a switch hitter so he will spin around now and bat right handed.
Kruk:
Guzman a sw...a free swinger, tough guy to walk.
Kuip:
First pitch, right center field. Aaron Rowand will put it away.
Kruk:
As I mentioned, you come out of the bullpen, you get that first strike, that first out, all of a sudden everything calms down. It's amazing what that pitch and that out will do for a relief pitcher. When you get them on one pitch, the both of them, it's a gift.
Kuip:
Here's Gonzalez, reached on an error in the sixth inning. Oh for three. Each team with three hits. Down low, one and oh.
Kuip:
Nieves led the inning off with a base hit. He takes his lead with Ishikawa holding him tight. And there's a bouncing ball with a runner on the move. The only play will be at first. Two outs and Nieves down to second. Nieves has got a very bad jump, but it may have been a hit and run, and on a hit and run...you shouldn't get a very good jump.
Kruk:
Well you ought to make sure that pitcher goes home, that's why you don't get a great jump. The only out for Edgar Renteria is the out at first base.
Kuip:
So here's Nick Johnson. Nick Johnson has the RBI in this game for the Nationals when he doubled in the sixth inning. Nice play by Bengie Molina, one ball and no strikes.
Kruk:
They try to crowd him all day long with Randy Johnson on that inside corner.
Kuip:
Two and oh.
Kruk:
Trying to pull back in the same way with Affeldt.
Kuip:
Affeldt realizes that he don't have to come in. He does have a base to work with. Zimmerman is on deck. And he comes in, it's two and one.
Kruk:
Well, I mean with Zimmerman on deck, Nick Johnson should get some pretty good pitches to hit. You would think the lefty-lefty matchup is one that would favor Affeldt. However, this year the lefties have been a bit problematic for him. Lefties hitting .333 off him this year.
Kuip:
Three and one. Affeldt saving that breaking ball. Now he falls behind, three balls and one strike. Wilson is up in the Giants bullpen.
Kruk:
Cloy Smooth you haven't really been able to explain why the lefties hit better against Affeldt. You know, great breaking ball that gets hard away from a lefty. Lefties hitting .333, righies just .180 against Affeldt. That does not make sense.
Kuip:
Swiiiiing and a miss, three and two.
Kruk:
A three-one challenge, looking fastball, Johnson was hackin' no matter what. And he may have helped Affeldt out. Fastball that sinks right below the zone, and Johnson th...swings right over the top. And they go right back in there again with the fastball, or he can throw the curveball. He has no fear on a three-two pitch throwing that curveball.
Kuip:
And the walk.
Kruk:
Pretty good take right there, folks.
Kuip:
Here comes Bruce Bochy. It's gonna be a Wilson-Zimmerman match-up. As Affeldt's gonna depart. When it's time for a change think SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up, your oil change, tune-up and smog experts. We will be back.
Kuip:
Two runs, three hits, and an error for the Giants; a run, three hits, and no errors for the Nationals. Affeldt will watch the rest of this inning as Brian Wilson comes in with those numbers.
Kruk:
23 strikeouts in 24 innings. With Wilson it's gonna be a mid to upper 90s fastball and a cutter and will also throw a curveball on occasion. And he's starting to throw more two-seam fastballs, which is becoming a pretty good pitch for him.
Kuip:
Giants bullpen trying to save this one for Randy Johnson. In a low scoring game with Zimmerman at the plate and the tying run at second base.
Kuip:
First pitch to Zimmerman is a bit high, one ball and no strikes. Zimmerman has bounced out twice and he's flied out.
Kuip:
Two balls and no strikes.
Kruk:
Now that's the pitch right there, especially at a one-oh count where...where a first pitch you don't have to be that fine. You really, against a guy like Wilson, hitters aren't going to look for anything but a fastball. When a guy throws 98 miles an hour they're going to sit on gas until they have to make an adjustment late in the count. I mean, you can throw it in the strike zone early on.
Kuip:
Swing and a miss, two and one.
Kruk:
That's country hardball right there. That was a straight challenge on two-oh count. And Ryan Zimmerman was trying to hit that thing to the Capitol Building.
Kuip:
Which would be a fair ball by the way
Kruk:
Yes it would.
Kuip:
See how far Zimmerman stands off the plate. Three and one. Adam Dunn is on deck.
Kuip:
Zimmerman saw a fastball two and oh. Let's see what he sees here. He walked him.
Kruk:
Three-one breaking ball, lot of respect there. So he had an open base and he decided to use it. And he's gonna take on the big fella, Adam Dunn, with the bases loaded.
Kuip:
According to our notes, Adam Dunn has never faced Brian Wilson before. One ball and no strikes.
Kruk:
Well Adam Dunn's gonna make you work. I mean, he's not gonna go out of the strike zone. Very selective, very patient hitter.
Kuip:
Swiiiiing and a miss! One ball and one strike!
Kruk:
96 on the inside corner. I mean, that was a very, very important pitch. Get in a two-oh count then you just simply have to take your chances going in the strike zone.
Kuip:
And it's not just the tying run at third, it's the lead run at second. One ball and one strike. One and two.
Kruk:
Went right back in there on the hands. So now he's got count leverage. A one and two advantage. He's seen three fastballs. You would stay on that side of the plate to try to go right on in on his hands again. You've got that option. You could try to throw a cutter at his back foot. And drop that curveball in the dirt.
Kuip:
One and two. Wide. Two balls, two strikes.
Kruk:
Pretty easy take there on a one-two pitch. Fans on the side that...saw that go across the knees thought it was across the plate, it was wide by a foot. But Giants fans in attendance wanted this one badly for Randy Johnson. Very upset about the call.
Kuip:
Two and two. You figure Wilson does not want to go three and two. And here it comes. Three and two.
Kruk:
And now you just have to take your chances in the strike zone. You can't think corner, you just have to think, "I need to challenge him.
Kuip:
Runners will take off. Three and two. GOT HIM! Adam Dunn can't believe it. The Giants will walk off the field with the lead as we go to the ninth, it's two-one Giants!
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Top of the 9th
Kruk:
Welcome back! Two to one Giants. We're in the top of the ninth inning, and, uh, an emotional three-two pitch from Brian Wilson that leaves Adam Dunn standing. And watch Bengie Molina snag this one right at the base of the strike zone and bring it back ever so much. And Tim Timmons the plate umpire said, 'Looks pretty good from here.' Adam Dunn irate over the strike three call that ended the inning. But it preserves the lead for the Giants and for Randy Johnson. And it's rare to see Adam Dunn argue, but obviously very upset about the call. Meanwhile Wilson walked off, getting the out. Now the Giants are going to try and break up 19 consecutive men that have been retired by the Nationals pitching. New...pitcher for...the Nationals, Joel Hanrahan, who's their closer. A very hard thrower. Hanrahan has a...uh, a good fastball goes mid to high 90s, a slider, and a changeup.
Kuip:
And the oh-one to Rowand is hit sharply up the middle. Diving is Gonzalez, he can't get it. And the Giants have a baserunner here in the ninth inning, and their first baserunner since Emmanuel Burriss singled in the second.
Kruk:
Here's the numbers for Hanrahan. Started out as the closer, then sort of fell out of favor and worked his way back up the ladder and in again to that closing role. This is the 26th time he's come in. 30 strikeouts in 24 and a third gives you an idea of the type of stuff he has. He's got closer stuff. It's just a matter of being able to...to be consistent with his location. And that at times has deceived him.
Kuip:
Edgar Renteria is 0 for three. See if Bruce Bochy puts a play on. And that only play would be a hit and run. Tanner Johnson watching.
Fan
Hey, Rowand! You still suck!
Kuip:
Up and in as Renteria shortened up to bunt. Giants have not scored since they scored two in the second inning.
Kuip:
One and oh to Edgar Renteria with Randy Winn to follow. Base hit, left field. Rowand is going to be on the move to third. Renteria is gonna jog into second base with a double. Second and third, nobody out.
Kruk:
Renteria's got to ha...be happy about this. An 0 for three with a couple of punchouts and an error. Here he takes a pitch and that's that fading action...
Kuip:
Wow
Kruk:
...on the fastball of Hanrahan just sort of ran right in on the hands of Edgar Renteria. He somehow squares it up and here's the reward: a two-base hit. The Giants all of a sudden have something going here, after 19 consecutive Giants were retired in a row by National pitching. They finally, finally got some runners on and a little threat going here in the ninth.
Kuip:
Infield is in for Randy Winn and Randy Winn takes one in the dirt. One ball and no strikes.
Kuip:
Randy Winn has bounced out twice and he's popped out. Swiiiing and a miss, one ball and one strike.
Kruk:
Change-up from Hanrahan. A lot of people right here thinks he...he should throw that pitch more. Joe Beimel starting to get stretched out now for the Nationals.
Kuip:
Pulled foul up against the Nationals dugout and now it's one and two.
Kruk:
Hanrahan cannot be an easy guy to catch. I mean, that fastball movement's got a mind of its own. I mean it will fade, it will sink, it will cut, sail. And, uh, obviously a guy who's hard to catch is not gonna be that easy to hit either. But if you're Wil Nieves, you got your hands full right now.
Kuip:
Randy Winn pokes this one fair down the left field line. Rowand scores, right behind him Renteria. And it's an RBI double for Randy Winn and it's four to one.
Kruk:
Nice two-strike hittin' for Randy Winn. They set up on the outside corner. This is not a hanger, it goes off the plate. And he just follows the movement and manages to keep it inside Zimmerman. And once it gets past Zimmernan...man, an easy score for Rowand and Renteria. And if you're Randy Johnson sittin' in the clubhouse watching this one, you gotta feel a whole lot better.
Kuip:
So here's Bengie Molina. Molina is 0 for three. Giants only hit three hits going to the ninth, now have three hits in the ninth, with Molina waiting on Hanrahan. Swing and a drive, over the leaping Gonzalez. That's a base hit. Randy Winn is gonna hold up at third, as he had to freeze thinking Gonzalez might catch that baseball. And that's four straight hits in a row for the Giants.
Kuip:
And Manny Acta's comin' out. And Manny Acta is gonna go to the bullpen as the Giants have scored two more this…in this ninth inning. And they've got two more out on the bases. When it's time for a change think SpeeDee Oil Change and Tune-Up, your oil change, tune-up and smog experts. We'll be back.
Kuip:
And Pablo Sandoval is gonna pinch hit. I also should mention that my partner, Mike Krukow, is headed down onto the field. If the Giants win this and Randy Johnson gets the victory then he will be doing an interview...
Kuip:
...Giants Post-Game Live, in between games, Mike will be doing an interview with Randy Johnson. So here's Pablo Sandoval facing Joe Beimel. And Sandoval takes a strike at the knees, and it's oh and one. Winn at third, Molina at first, Sandoval.
Kuip:
And the oh-one. And Sandoval hits a little popup down the right field line that's gonna sail into the seats, and it's nothing and two. Giants with a three run lead. They obviously are looking for more and would like more. Sandoval hitting .301 with three home runs and 20 driven in.
Kuip:
Beimel throws, up high, one and two. And that's the book on young Pablo Sandoval. If you get ahead in the count, see if you can get him to chase a pitch up. The more he sees those, the better he'll get at not chasing.
Kuip:
Foul back. Beimel with an 88 mile an hour fastball. Four runs, seven hits for the Giants; one run, three hits for the Nationals. Beimel deals to Sandoval, and it's way outside, two and two. Randy Johnson, if you just joined us, went six innings, allowed two hits. He allowed an unearned run, two walks, two strikeouts. The two-two. Three and two. And yes indeed, he is the pitcher of record right now. Mentioned his line. He threw 78 pitches. He left the game with a two to one lead.
Kuip:
Three and two to Sandoval. Here it comes. Line drive center field. Coming in is Dukes. Dukes will make the running catch. Randy Winn's comin' in! Here's the throw, it hits the mound and Winn scores! And it's five to one! So Pablo Sandoval with a sacrifice fly. Nice baserunning by Randy Winn. And here's Andres Torres.
Kuip:
Andres Torres, hitting at .250, at the plate with Molina at first. And he lines one into center field. Dukes is drifting back, and he will put it away, two outs. And that will bring up Juan Uribe. So the Giants put together four straight hits here in the ninth inning.
Kuip:
So here's Uribe. And the pitch, and Uribe squibs one off the end of the bat, and that will roll foul. A kick save by Roberto Kelly as he caroms...he...he kicked it in the direction of R.J. Thompson, uh, one of the rookie umpires. R.J. didn't know what to do with it, so he threw it back to Roberto Kelly.
Kuip:
Bit takes low, one ball and one strike. Roberto Kelly has got a shin guard on his left elbow, and a shin guard on his right shin. And a shin guard on his left shin. It looked like he's played another sport. The one-one pitch. Swing and a dribbler out in front of home plate. Beimel has it, he will spin around. He'll throw, a bit wildly but hanging on is Nick Johnson. And that ends the inning. Here comes the bottom of the ninth. It's the Giants five, and the Nationals one.
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Bottom of the 9th
Kuip:
It's a five-one lead for the Giants here in the ninth inning thanks to a three-run insurance cushion in the top of this inning. Well, check out Randy Johnson. His day started as he walked onto the field to get loose, in rain, by the way. Struck out Adam Dunn in the second, struck out Austin Kearns in the second. He knocked down...this ground ball from Anderson Hernandez. And then the play of the day, Emmanuel Burriss to Edgar Renteria...to Travis Ishikawa. And Tanner Johnson says "Dad, good job."
Kuip:
Here's Elijah Dukes, swing and a miss, no balls and one strike. Here in the ninth, it will be Dukes, Kearns, and Belliard. Randy Johnson back in the dugout. A good shot of...of Randy's son Tanner, just kinda taking a peek to see how the old man's doing, as this is lifted foul down the right field line. 78 pitches, 50 strikes.
Kuip:
Oh and two to Elijah Dukes. Wilson deals, just outside, one and two.
Kuip:
"How ya doin' Dad?" Here it comes to Dukes. Two and two. Dukes singled to lead off the fifth inning. Andres Torres is now in left field, Pablo Sandoval is at first base. The two-two...is high, three and two. It's up to Brian Wilson now to...to just quietly keep the Nationals from thinking they can get back into this game.
Kuip:
The three-two pitch, swing and a foul, out of play.
Kuip:
Three balls, two strikes. Got him. As Wilson blows the fastball by Elijah Dukes, 96 miles per hour, one out here in the ninth. And here's Kearns. At 45 years old, Randy Johnson, in the rain, a chance to win career number 300. Here's Kearns. Outside corner, strike, and it's oh and one. Been a very strange two days here in Washington DC due to the weather. The oh-one pitch...is inside, one ball and one strike.
Kuip:
Mike Krukow has gone down onto the field. He will have an interview with Randy Johnson if this game stays the same. And he'll do that during Giants Post-Game Live which will be in between games. One ball and two strikes to Austin Kearns. Just inside, two and two.
Kuip:
Medders came in, Affeldt came in, and now Wilson. And the two-two pitch. Foul back as Kearns got a fastball belt high at 97 miles per hours, so Wilson pumping him fastballs. The Johnson family headed back to their seats. As I mentioned, if you just joined us, it has rained all afternoon. Kearns takes high and in, three and two. It appears today that, for Brian Wilson, it's just going to be a three and two day.
Kuip:
Three balls, two strikes. Got him. Two down in the ninth.
Kruk:
He keeps going three and two and coming up with the big pitch. However, it's, uh, it's okay. I think it just adds to the drama of the moment, Smooth.
Kuip:
Well, yeah, I mean he...he seems to be more comfortable throwing that...that three-two pitch than the one-two pitch, but that's fine.
Kruk:
Well, for whatever reason he is able to focus on that three-two pitch. There you see Randy Johnson, a small smile with his son Tanner.
Kuip:
Here's Belliard, who looks at a pitch outside for a ball. One ball and no strikes. Belliard is 0 for three. And a strike.
Kruk:
Well if the old man's not smiling on the bench, his son Tanner is.
Kuip:
He always checks, though, Mike, to see how the old man's doing.
Kruk:
He...he's definitely not smiling when he's facing the old man, but that young man cannot suppress it any longer.
Kuip:
Swiiiiing and a miss, nothing and two.
Kuip:
The oh-two pitch, is just outside, one and two.
Kruk:
We know it's gotta go three and two.
Kuip:
The chant of "Randy" ringing around the ballpark, and the two-two. Three and two. It's...gonna be a three-two day.
Kruk:
Well, Tanner Johnson looked like he's enjoying the whole thing a whole lot more than the old man is.
Kuip:
Heh heh heh heh heh. Three balls and two strikes to Belliard. Here it comes. Up the middle. Burriss knocks it down, recovers, the throw...NOT IN TIME as Belliard beats it out! Emmanuel Burriss made the best of it. Once it rolled away from him I didn't think he had any chance at all, and it turned out that he nearly got him.
Kruk:
One thing about Belliard it takes a little while to get unwound. He takes a big cut. And that gave Burriss a bit of an extra opportunity there, but Belliard still runs pretty well. And it looked like it was bang bang to first, and the tie goes the runner. And for Randy Johnson he'll have to wait just a little bit longer.
Kuip:
And it will be Wil Nieves who will come up with two outs. It will be an infield hit for Belliard. And a strike to Nieves and it's oh and one.
Kruk:
Every Giant wants to be in this box score, on the day that Randy Johnson gets his 300th win.
Kuip:
Out of play, nothing and two.
Kruk:
For Brian Wilson, he's talked about this opportunity, he wants to be the guy that saves this game for the big fellow. And now he's just one strike away.
GOT HIM! Wilson strikes out the side and Randy Johnson with his 300th career win. And this is his moment, folks. His wife, Lisa. Tanner is gonna go out with the old man, and I don't blame him. The sixth left-handed pitcher with 300 wins, the 24th. Very nice. Our next broadcast on CSN Comcast Sports Net Bay Area present about 20 minutes as Giants and Nationals play Game 2 of this double-header. Stay tuned, we'll hear from the newest member of the 300 club, as Mike will interview Randy Johnson. But first, we'll watch some hugs, and then we'll go to the studio, as Giants Post-Game Live starts right now.
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