Well here we are. At this point right now ten years ago Brian Wilson just struck out Wil Nieves to put the finishing touches on Randy Johnson's 300th win, and we have moved on to Part IV of the celebration of this milestone win. What else can I say about this 300th win? Back in December 2009 I did a narrative play by play of the game, and you can easily find the play by play on the boxscore on Baseball Reference or Retrosheet. Five years ago I posted the transcript of the CSN Bay Area broadcast featuring Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow. I've been working on the same for the MASN broadcast between Bob Carpenter and Rob Dibble, but I decided that maybe I should save it for the 10th anniversary. I admit I prefer the Kuip and Kruk broadcast, but since I got that out of the way five years ago there isn't any point to posting it again. So here is the broadcast between Bob and Rob, with special guests Johnny Holliday, Ray Knight, Debbi Taylor, and Chartese Burnett.
Part I: The 300 Win Club
Part II: The Player
Part III: The Game (you are here)
Part IV: The Other Games
Part V: The Future (of the 300 Win Club)
Top 1
Rowand was called out on strikes;
Renteria was called out on strikes;
Winn grounded out (first to pitcher);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Nationals 0.
Rob:
…go right after these guys, attack 'em, get ahead.
Bob:
I thought Randy Johnson might continue to throw, and maybe just come into the game from the bullpen, but he's just now strolling inside foul territory down the third base line. And with him on the field, the game will start with a swing and a miss and we're under way, and the Nats did a pretty good job of predicting. They said we'd throw first pitch at 5:10. It's 5:11. 61 degrees in a light, steady rain. And Zimmermann throws one upstairs to Aaron Rowand, who's hitting .404 for the Giants since they put him in the leadoff spot. So a 36-minute delay in starting the first game of this traditional double-header. Home plate umpire, 10-year-veteran Tim Timmons. R.J. Thompson, rookie umpire, called up for the day. Jeff Kellogg, the crew chief, at second. Mark Wegner at third. As we told you before, when an umpire works home plate on a double-header day, he gets the other game off, and Rob Drake will have that home plate duty tonight. So Aaron Rowand with a 12-game hitting streak hanging tough here against Jordan Zimmermann. Not to be forgotten, the Nationals have won the only game of this series, 10 to six on Tuesday night, outhitting the Giants 14-11. Fastball up, two and two. Working with Wil Nieves today is Jordan, making his ninth Major League start.
Bob:
Tough to get the ball past Aaron Rowand. Is he turning into a contact guy now?
Rob:
Well, I think…I think mentally you change your approach a little bit differently at the leadoff thing. You're trying to make the…the pitcher throw, or try to throw all of his pitches, which he's challenged him with nothing but fastballs, to show the rest of the lineup.
Bob:
Rowand's hard to walk. 34 strikeouts, only eight walks this year. So he's in there to hack.
Rob:
He's right up on top of the plate, too.
Bob:
And that gets him on the inside corner.
Rob:
Heh heh heh heh. Well, you wanted to see something different. Well, you got the big breaking ball. And Jordan Zimmermann's got an excellent slider. He drops it in there, after about seven straight fastballs. See, great location right here. It's down at the knees. It's a nice little slider, you'd almost call it a 'slitty.' That'll be…cross between a curveball and a slider.
Bob:
Hmmph
Rob:
Some people call it a 'slurve.'
Bob:
I think I like 'slurve' better. Heh heh heh heh.
Rob:
Yeah, but…you just…it's…it's kind of like a cut fastball…
Bob:
Yeah
Rob:
…but you're actually just tweaking it a little bit so it just breaks a little bit more than a…than a cutter.
Bob:
Edgar Renteria, hitting .245, next for the Giants. And a swing and a foul tip right into the glove of Wil Nieves.
Rob:
Now this is the type of guy we saw in the first couple of, uh, outings for Jordan. He just attack people, he blew it by people the first trip through the lineup. That's…he's a very special young man. He's got to get that in his head that he is spishal...special, and they can't hit his stuff.
Bob:
Got him looking with a fastball in the outside corner! Renteria walks away slowly, two outs. Next up will be Randy Winn.
Rob:
Y'know, a couple of backward Ks right here to start off. When you have that good of a breaking ball, and they start looking for that instead of 95, that's what happens. You're able to just throw 95 right down the middle, and even freeze a guy like Renteria.
Bob:
Randy Winn hitting .283, switch-hitting, line-drive type hitter. He's only hit two home runs. That's got to be one of the lowest totals for any number three hitter in baseball. The Giants have only hit 27 this year.
Rob:
Huh. That's not low.
Bob:
Pretty nasty.
Rob:
That's a nice pitch. Cheese at the knees. You're not gonna hit that.
Bob:
Right in on the trademark. I think this is gonna be a good night for the pitchers. These guys can bring it. It's not a night when hitters are feeling comfortable. You know, they say in football, the offense has the advantage in bad weather because they've got the ball in their hands and they know what they're doing. This is the only sport where the defense has the ball in its hands to start, so you would expect the pitchers to be able to intimidate a few guys and work 'em in and out, but, bust some of these hitters in on their hands on an evening like this. Three-one pitch.
Rob:
Well, they've…they got a little bit more to contend with than you as a pitch…As pitcher, you're still doing what you do. They've…their bats are wet. Their helmets get dripping water. Their gloves are a little bit wet. They're…they're more uncomfortable than the pitchers in a night like this.
Bob:
That'll be out of play down the left field line. You know, the Giants have had a lot of problems on the road this year. They're a .500 ballclub, but they're only seven and 16 on the road. They ha' have only one more road win than the Nationals do. Against the East, Bengie Molina, Winn, and company six and five. The Nats are five and four against the West. Three-two again, the ground ball. Nice big hop. Right to the pitcher from Slick Nick down there at first. And a one-two-three top of the first for Zimmermann.
Bottom 1
Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first);
N. Johnson lined to center;
Zimmerman grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Nationals 0.
Bob:
…hats off to director of bail…ballpark operations Matthew Blush and the head groundskeeper John Royse for all their hard work. Those guys have been working throughout the night to get this field ready today. And Ryan Zimmerman will bat third in the Nats' starting lineup. Washington hitting .268 in the league. They're down to number four in batting average, but that's because they had to take a night off. Zimmerman still third in the league in hitting…or rather in hits, and fourth in extra base hits.
Bob:
Randy Johnson, 299 and 164. Against the Monreal/Washington franchise, he's four and three with a 2.99 ERA, the franchise that signed him to his first professional contract. He's ahead of Alberto Gonzalez. Rob, how different of a pitcher is he at this stage of his career?
Rob:
Oh, heh heh. He's leaps and bounds above where he…he used to be a thrower. Uh…when I played against him in the minor leagues and then when he was with the Expos before he got traded to the American League, he just threw it 100. And he scared the heck out of anybody who stood in the box. He was all over the place, he really didn't repeat his delivery. He's a pitcher. He's a pitcher now. Now he's thinking, 'What spot I'm gonna h…hit, what kind of breaking ball I'm gonna throw you when I get ahead.' I mean, th...all that kind of stuff. He's 20 years removed from being a thrower.
Bob:
They had to throw the first ball of the game out, that he pitched. All these balls are being documented tonight as authentic baseballs thrown by Randy Johnson in the ballgame. And the oh-two to Alberto Gonzalez. Debbi Taylor will sort that out for us later and explain what they're doing with the baseballs. Renteria with a soft throw, Gonzalez out, that's how the bottom of the first gets underway for Randy Johnson.
Rob:
PNC scouting report on Randy Johnson. He may be the last of the Mohicans, maybe the last 300-game-winner in our generation. Video game numbers: you look at his strikeouts, his…uh…hits to innings pitched, his strikeouts to innings pitched, his walks to innings pitched. All of his numbers are just ridiculously off the charts. And he will be missed. He is baseball royalty, and when he's gone, there's never gonna be another one like him.
Bob:
Nick Johnson hitting .328. Can't be too comfy for a left-hander looking out 60 feet away and seeing that guy.
Rob:
Tsch!
Bob:
And…
Rob:
6'10" though!
Bob:
6'10" lookin' at him
Rob:
Cause when he lets go of the ball he's about 50 feet from ya. Remember when he threw 100? Can you imagine him throwing an up, under-your-chin fastball if you're left-handed? You…see it in your dreams for a month.
Bob:
Some would call that a nightmare.
Rob:
Heh heh heh heh heh heh.
Bob:
Two and oh to Nick, who's hit safely in 18 of his last 21 games. That ball really hit well to center! And it's backhanded by Aaron Rowand! And if he doesn't make that play, that ball hits the wet turf, and might be at least three for Nick Johnson, who hit it extremely hard.
Rob:
Nick sits in on lefties so well, Randy Johnson no exception. He takes it the other way into left-center, but Aaron Rowand is there, makes an exceptional defensive play on the ball. As it's fading away from him, actually comes back in a little bit and handcuffed him, but…
Bob:
Yeah.
Rob:
Nick just hits everybody.
Bob:
Here's Zimmerman. And the one thing I noticed about that play that might be the most significant of all, when Aaron Rowand hit the turf, no water splashed up. It's amazing how much moisture these modern fields can take. Zimmerman up the middle, but that's where they're playing him. Emmanuel Burriss gets behind it. Each pitcher with a one-two-three in the first inning. And a good start for Randy Johnson.
Top 2
Molina struck out;
Lewis singled to left;
Ishikawa doubled to right [Lewis to third];
Uribe grounded out (second to first) [Lewis scored];
Burriss singled to center [Ishikawa scored];
R. Johnson struck out;
2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Bob:
…a poncho, whatever other rain gear you might be able to bring, and here we are with a closer look at Randy Johnson from up top!
Rob:
Randy Johnson right here, he sticks his finger out, or his hand in front of the ball. He may have gotten clipped by this Ryan Zimmerman…hit up the middle. Now watch this, right there…
Bob:
Mmm…
Rob:
Great shot, guys. May have gotten his pinkie right there, as he shook his hand as he walked off the mound. Well, there he is, lookin' at it. Note to self: You're not supposed to try to field it bare-handed.
Bob:
And he should have known that his second baseman was playing right up the middle, because that's the way teams play Ryan Zimmerman.
Rob:
Well, remember, we talk about third and first base as reactionary positions? So is the pitcher.
Bob:
Mm-hmm.
Rob:
A lot of times, I mean, like I said, he's right there at the front of the mound. Ball one-hop, first reaction's to try to knock it down, like a hockey goalie.
Bob:
Bengie Molina hitting .247. Breaking ball, popped up, right side. It'll get over the dugout. Molina 0 for five with two strikeouts on Tuesday night.
Rob:
The highest active batting averages against the Expos slash Nationals.
Bob:
Yeah, that series in San Franciso didn't do anything to hurt that. Bengie Molina did not start the third game of that series, but he had a home run in game two and a base hit in game one. And he doesn't hit many homers, neither do the Giants. He's hit eight out this year. Hard to walk, 25 strikeouts, two bases on balls. And he's gone, and Jordan Zimmermann has three strikeouts in four batters retired. That'll bring up the left fielder Fred Lewis.
Rob:
Here's the strikeout, Bob, right here. He sets it up oh-two, very nicely, change some…uh…eye views with the second pitch of this at bat. We'll see in just a second.
Bob:
Well, there's a fastball up.
Rob:
Now, this is the oh-one pitch right here to Bengie Molina, you see Wil Nieves right there? Bang! He throws that chest-high fastball. It's a learning process, but that's excellent, moving his…his eye level from down to up and then back down for strike three.
Bob:
And he tries to paint with a fastball, doesn't. Just misses. Fred Lewis, four game hitting streak, five base hits over that time, and a two-one pitch. Took a little bit off, got the inside corner.
Rob:
It's like a sidearm changeup right there. That was very nice. Here's that last pitch. Watch him drop down a little bit, Northrop Grummon, right there. Drops…
Bob:
Wow…
Rob:
…MPHs on it too, down to the 87. S'give me a lot of different looks, and that's…that's what he's gotta do. We've talked about it. Sometimes he's got too good a command, and for a young guy that's amazing.
Bob:
Yeah. And that ball lined out to left center. It'll be a wet baseball every time it gets picked up in the outfield. Adam Dunn gets it back in quickly. Emmanuel, or rather Fred Lewis, was thinking second base until Adam Dunn put a stop to it. This is a night when a good running team like the Giants can ch…challenge your defense. Dukes in center, Kearns in right. Josh Willingham really has a bad case of the flu and not feeling well. Anderson Hernandez was penciled in as the starter last night at second base, but it's Belliard today. We're expected to see Anderson Hernandez at second base tonight. And you would think Josh Bard behind the plate tonight. We'll worry about tonight when that happens.
Rob:
W…w…well…
Bob:
Right now, just trying to get one game in here, and then you'll take your chances. This is Travis Ishikawa.
Bob:
Ishikawa had some hits against the Nats in that series out in San Fran. He's a 25 year old first baseman from Seattle. Giants took him in the 21st round seven years ago.
Bob:
Big kid, 6'3", 225.
Bob:
Nats looking for a ground ball. That's a fly ball off to the left, one and two.
Rob:
There's that little slider again. Saw that late break.
Rob:
See, now something really f…farther out away from…uh…Ishikawa is…umm…preferable right here, whether it's a slider, trying to backdoor it, or even a changeup down in the dirt.
Bob:
Runner goes! That's a breaking ball, fouled off.
Rob:
Tried to backdoor him, but trying to get that little bit lower.
Bob:
Yeah, that ball was up.
Rob:
He hits it…he…he grounds it. You want them to always, if you make a mistake, hit it into the ground. I mean, he had the ball up to Lewis, Lewis got the base hit. Keep it down, keep it down away from him, have him slap it on the ground.
Bob:
Ishikawa, seven for his last 11. Lewis, a good lead, he's holding this time. And again, Zimmermann keeps the ball away from him.
Rob:
There you see him, he hits his spots.
Bob:
Juan Uribe is next. By the way, the Mets are coming here tomorrow night. They were beaten at Pittsburgh 11 to six today.
Rob:
Yeah, Mike Pelfrey did not throw the ball well today.
Bob:
And they still had…they have even more injury issues than when we saw them last week. Bouncing ball, Nick Johnson can't get it! It's a fair ball. Fred Lewis is racing for third. Kearns picks the ball up and gets it back in. Second and third, one out for the Giants. And of course when the Giants, if and when they score, everybody starts thinking about Randy Johnson then having a lead to work with.
Rob:
Well, this pitch is gonna go down and in and that's right in the sweet spot for a hitter on the left side. He pulls it right by Nick Johnson, Nick'll…
Bob:
Yeah…
Rob:
Nick I think actually got a piece of it. Slowed it down. And Fred Lewis was held up at third and may have jammed his foot…
Bob:
Juan Uribe…
Rob:
…at the heel.
Bob:
…had two hits on Tuesday night. He's five for his last ten. Nats will play the infield back early in the ballgame. Good breaking ball away for a strike.
Rob:
There's your defensive alignment.
Bob:
Outfield pretty deep, straight away. Uribe, for a guy with no home runs, being played pretty deep in center and left.
Rob:
Aw, Zimmermann supplying a lot of power with the 95-mile-an-hour heater.
Bob:
Kearns, of course, the best arm of the three out there. And a one-one pitch. Lined, caught, but it's on a hop. That'll be a run. A good play by Ronnie Belliard on a ball that coulda gotten by him. And the Giants are on the board on Juan Uribe's 10th RBI.
Rob:
Well, Ronnie Belliard's gonna make a tremendous play right here, probably saved a run. Shot to his left, he makes a 360 and a perfect throw to Nick Johnson. So Ishikawa had to stay at second base, but Fred Lewis scores easily with his speed.
Bob:
And that'll bring up Emmanuel Burriss. Can't catch up with that.
Rob:
Heh heh heh. High heat.
Bob:
Burriss, 24-year-old native of our Nation's capitol. Late for that one. 93, 94.
Rob:
See, he's so far behind that. Don't even think about an off-speed pitch. I've told you about the bottom of the order. Here's the pitch track from Northrop Grummon. Just right by him. Not even a shot. Maybe even throw one chest-high right here away from him.
Bob:
And he gets one up the middle! Three consecutive fastballs and Emmanuel Burriss puts the Giants on top, two-nothing.
Bob:
Early game problems continue for Jordan Zimmermann. He had a one-two-three first inning, but the Giants have played it…
Rob:
Here's a replay…
Bob:
…three…hits here.
Rob:
Well, you saw where…Wil Nieves has the glove on the outer half, and he throws it on the inner half. Way too good of an 0-2 pitch, and he knows it.
Bob:
Randy Johnson's a .125 career hitter. He does have one career home run, which came against Doug Davis of Milwaukee six years ago.
Rob:
I don't think he's gonna overswing right here. I know he's had the bad back problems over the years, knee problem from time to time. Unless it's right in there, I don't think he's gonna really try to kill it. Yeah.
Bob:
So four strikeouts for Jordan Zimmermann, but three hits for the Giants, giving them two runs. Adam Dunn looking to get a grip here in the rain. He'll lead off with Dukes and Kearns to follow, and now the Nats…
Bottom 2
Dunn struck out;
Dukes grounded out (third to first);
Kearns struck out;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Bob:
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Bob:
Randy Johnson, first inning, only eight pitches, five strikes. Adam Dunn hitting .269, Elijah Dukes at .276, and Austin Kearns at .224. The only lefthander we've seen tonight got a real good swing on Randy. That was Nick Johnson.
Rob:
Oh, you wanna know how rare it is, Bob, to win 300 games in the Major Leagues? He would become only the sixth-ever left-handed Major League pitcher to win 300 games. And he would be the fifth pitcher since 1970 to record 300 victories.
Bob:
Hmm. Only 23 pitchers in the history of this game have done it. And a two-oh coming. That's a fastball up and away to Adam Dunn. Five Cy Youngs, ten All-Star Games.
Rob:
Four in a row.
Bob:
Roger Clemens with more. He had an amazing run in Arizona.
Rob:
Mm-hmm.
Bob:
Not bad for a guy who wasn't even drafted first by the Expos. As we mentioned last night, they took an outfielder, Pete Incaviglia, who was a slugger, out of Oklahoma State, before they drafted Randy Johnson. Three-one, and Adam Dunn takes it on the corner. B.J. Surhoff in that '85 class. Will the Thrill, Bobby Witt out of the University of Texas. Barry Larkin. Bonds out of Arizona State. And Randy Johnson, after going three and oh on Adam Dunn, battles back to strike him out.
Rob:
Well, one of the things that Randy Johnson did with Nolan Ryan was work on the mechanics. And here's Randy Johnson's delivery from overhead, and you see him perfect right in the middle of the mound, deliver the ball, and boom! Going for his 300th win today. Nolan Ryan said…uh…you know, 'You're'…'You're landing on your heel. Why don't you try to land a little bit more forward on the front end of your foot, and bring everything towards the hitter?' He's been doing it for 20-plus years. But I think that the conversation had to be more of the belief in yourself and your stuff, and Randy Johnson became Randy Johnson after talking to Nolie...Nolan Ryan.
Bob:
Off-speed pitch, he had Dukes reaching.
Rob:
Because what Nolan said, he said…it…'I'…you know…'I wanted this kid to get the most out of his talent that he possibly could.' And he felt he needed to say something to him.
Bob:
So hitters have even another reason to not like Nolan Ryan.
Rob:
Hnn ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Bob:
Hnn hnn hnn hnn hnn hnn. And the oh-two to Elijah Dukes. Fastball, just a little bit up. Didn't miss by much.
Rob:
Well, I think the hitters in the American League West right now have a reason to not like Nolan Ryan, because they're having hard time hittin' the pitching staff of the Texas Rangers, where he is now the president.
Bob:
ERA 4.56 on that ballclub, but much better among their starters than it's been. And, of course, they have all the offense you can want.
Rob:
Aw, and then he also…uh…hired Mike Maddux, who's regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, stole him away from the Milwaukee Brewers. Greg Maddux's brother.
Bob:
One and two to Elijah Dukes, who's hit four homers, 12 RBIs over his last 14 games. That's an off-speed pitch, way outside, two and two.
Rob:
That's kind of a little changeup that over the last few years Randy Johnson has fiddled with, but he's still predominantly fastball, slider. And when he's got a good tilt on his slider, it's a rough night for everybody.
Bob:
Dukes, a two-hopper, left side. Juan Uribe, two outs. Randy Johnson starting his night out five in a row, and he'll face Austin Kearns.
Bob:
This ballgame started at 5:11 Eastern Time, after a thirty-smi…six-minute rain delay. Still a few sprinkles coming down, but not raining as hard as it did earlier. Some interesting wardrobes in the ballpark tonight. Anything to keep dry and keep warm on a 61-degree afternoon. Here's Austin Kearns…who is eight for his last 47.
Bob:
They go soft. Well, not that much softer. Just a little bit of…90 deg…mile-an-hour action there, and it's oh and two quickly. Kearns has fanned 30 times this year, and Randy Johnson rings him up. Two strikeouts in the second inning, So far, so good for the would-be 300-game-winner. A two-nothing lead, and six in a row.
Top 3
Rowand grounded out (third to first);
Renteria was called out on strikes;
Winn grounded out (first unassisted);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Debbi:
…Giants as we move to the third inning. Now Jordan Zimmermann wasn't even born when Randy Johnson was drafted by the Expos in 1985. But he's hoping to stop history from happening here tonight.
Zimm:
Yeah, definitely want to stop it, and, I mean, everyone's probably going to be cheering against me so he gets to 300 win. But, I mean, I might go out there and…pitch my game, and…and…and see what happens, and…and hopefully we can keep him at 299 for another five days.
Debbi:
Now as far as facing Randy Johnson from the hitter's perspective, Jordan told me he's got a new batch of balls…he's got a new batch of bats to use!
Bob:
One ball and one strike. Thank you, Debbi. That ball fouled off.
Top of the third inning, and Aaron Rowand was called out on strikes first time up. And so was Edgar Renteria, who bats after him. Well, if Jordan Zimmermann gets a hit against Randy Johnson…
Rob:
Heh.
Bob:
…with a new bat, everybody in the dugout will want a piece of that thing. On the ground, pulled over to Zimmerman. Aaron Rowand 0 for two, after getting three hits and a walk on Tuesday night. Next up will be Renteria and then Randy Winn.
Rob:
Well, you play the game long enough you give up a lot of first hits, first home runs, first a lot of stuff. I gave up Curt Schilling's first RBI single in the big leagues. Wasn't happy about it, but…
Bob:
It happens.
Rob:
Mm-hmm. Next pitch went behind Eric Yelding, we had a fight.
Bob:
Heh heh…did you just…
Rob:
I'll just throw that in there. No…yeah, we did.
Bob:
Heh hnn hnn
Rob:
That was back in my wild and crazy days.
Bob:
One ball and one strike to Renteria, overmatched by Zimmermann first time up. He painted the outside corner with a fastball.
Rob:
You saw Edgar's reaction, because he…he took three straight fastballs, and then he gets the slider he's looking for in the first at bat. There's the fastball again.
Bob:
Firestone is a tradition of innovation, and Jordan Zimmermann leads all Major League rookies. Lots of strikeouts, counting four already here today. But just as impressive as that, the fact that it's 51 strikeouts but only 14 walks. The only thing, as Rob has pointed out numerous times, he's been way too hittable, throwing too many balls right down the middle of the plate.
Rob:
Well, even to, like, Burriss in that last inning, that RBI single at the end of the inning, that was kind of painful. He has him oh-two, he's gotta think of something either in the dirt, or chest high, but nothing good enough to hit. See strike three right there on a great slider to Renteria. Y…you know, it's more of a thought process now, because he knows how to throw strikes. But it's…it's setting hitters up and then putting them way. Three-two…three-two great breaking ball. You see Renteria's butt going back into his own dugout. That's a wonderful pitch right there.
Bob:
Bases empty, two outs, and here's Randy Winn.
Bob:
Good fastball.
Bob:
Steady drizzle falling. Not affecting play at all so far. And a little bouncer to the right side, right at the bag and Nick Johnson has it. Same three hitters who went one-two-three in the top of the first, and the bottom three coming up for the Nats.
Bottom 3
Belliard grounded out (shortstop to first);
Nieves grounded out (shortstop to first);
Zimmermann grounded out (pitcher to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Bob:
…baseball on MASN, brought to you by Southwest Airlines, book your next trip at Southwest.com, and by Firestone, a tradition of innovation.
Bob:
Bottom of the third here at Nationals Park. Belliard, Nieves, and Zimmermann. Our fans are all bundled up tonight, and watching the Giants lead the Nationals two-nothing with a couple of runs on three hits in the second inning. Ronnie Belliard takes a tailing fastball for a strike. He's changing speeds on his fastball quite a bit. That was 88. We've seen 90, and we've seen above that. And we've seen change-up, 82, 84.
Rob:
Well, and there's the…the 84 change-up. Well, he doesn't have 94 anymore, and I think he is the type of guy that he adjusted over the last few years, saying, 'Listen, I…I can't blow people away anymore, but I can still change speeds on my fastball.' It gives him an extra pitch.
Bob:
Belliard reaching, out to the shortstop, Renteria, has to hurry. Edgar plays it well.
Rob:
I mean, if you look at Livan Hernandez, maybe he's playing with about eight mile-an-hour slower than Randy Johnson's top end, but he does the exact same thing. By changing speeds and manipulating the miles-per hour-on a fastball, he's got a…a second, third pitch without even going to the slider or the change-up.
Bob:
Wil Nieves is one of 12 Major League players who first…whose first base hit of his career came against Randy Johnson. It's a rather indistinguished list. Heh. Jeff Bennett, Jeff Karstens, Day-Sung Koo…or Dae-Sung Koo, Ryan Long, Scott McClain, Seth McClung, a pitcher of all people, Joe McEwing, Mike Rouse, Max Scherzer, another pitcher, Marcus Thames. But maybe the most infamous of all: Hector Ramirez of the Milwaukee Brewers. April…make it May 26th of 2000. His first base hit against Randy Johnson, the only hit of his Major League career. Looks like Wil's not gonna get one this time. Renteria plays it well, two outs.
Bob:
Nats fans deserve Major League service. When it comes to tickets, go to StubHub, official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Nationals.com. Game two tonight, time TBA. And then the Mets are in for three over the weekend, a day off Monday, and then Cincinnati is here. Lot of HD in our immediate future. Jordan Zimmermann is 0 for 14 career.
Rob:
Well, you…every pitcher has a guy like that. In…in my career, the home runs I gave up, there was a guy named Sil Campusano
Bob:
Yeah…
Rob:
…from the Philadelphia Phillies. I'll…I'll look it up. I think he has three career home runs, one's off me. And it was painful, because it was a three-oh pitch. Normally I'd try to locate it, I was, 'Ah, it's three and oh, I'm gettin' my work in.' Threw it right down Broadway, he crushed it. Home run.
Bob:
No such luck for Zimmermann. Randy Johnson, nine in a row to start the game when he's going for 300!
Top 4
Molina was called out on strikes;
Lewis grounded out (shortstop to first);
Ishikawa flied to left;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Debbi:
…still in this one by a score of two to nothing as we move to the top of the fourth inning. Now I am joined by Chartese Burnett, the Vice President of Communications and Community Relations, a vusy…busy, busy lady here at the ballpark, and, really, a l…not of neat things happening this weekend. Let's start with Black Heritage Night.
Chartese:
Well, it's our first ever. We're excited to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of black, um, women and men…um...in th…in our country. And…and so it's our first one, and we hope to make this a tradition where we can celebrate the culture. We've got, you know, Latino Heritage and certainly Jewish Heritage, and so now we've…we've added another program and we're really excited to embrace that community.
Debbi:
What are some of the highlights of the night?
Chartese:
Well, we're…we have a lot of elements. We've got a band that's gonna be, um…a…a…an R&B band that's gonna be playing in center field. Illusions is the band. And then former Redskin Hall of Famer Darryl Green will be out to participate in pre-game ceremonies. We've got all kinds of vignettes from noted African Americans that will be speaking on what baseball means to them. So it's a lot of things going on tomorrow. Want folks to come out and enjoy, help us celebrate.
Debbi: And also when they come out they need to bring cans of food, right? Because there is a food drive going on here also?
Chartese:
Yes. Beginning tomorrow for the three-game series against the Mets, we will be having our fourth annual…or hosting our fourth annual Thanksgiving in June…uh…food collection. So come out and bring canned foods, bring pasta and peas, and…and macaroni…um…t-tuna, and all kinds of things, because we wanna benefit the…uh...Capital Area Food Bank, where they help to food over 56,000 hungry children in the area. So we want folks to come out as they always do. Our community helps us step to the plate to do that.
Debbi:
Okay, Chartese. Thank you so much. And I know that Wil Nieves was there this week doing some…uh…work and vol...meeting the volunteers, and I think it's something that people should definitely get involved in, Bob?
Bob:
Thank you, Debbi, and thank you, Chartese. Nationals, on a regular basis, almost a daily basis, reaching out into our community to help make DC a better place and get some folks in DC in love with baseball and with this baseball team. It's our team, here. And there's a pitch on the inside corner from Jordan Zimmermann, who just struck out Bengie Molina. And now he faces Fred Lewis, who got their rally going two innings ago. So the top four hitters in the Giants lineup 0 for eight with five strikeouts and three ground balls.
Rob:
He's been locating the ball excellent, you know, it's…it's just a couple of mistakes that he's making, and those are just things that over time…uh…he'll concentrate and focus to where you won't make…or let down here and let down there and get a ball up here or leave a slider out there. That's what pitching's all about. And right now he's just so raw and so talented that once he just puts it all together, I…I see this guy winning 20 games one year and winning Cy Young awards. He's that good.
Bob:
Two and two to Lewis. They're gonna jam him this time, and that results in a little ground ball up the middle. Gobbled up by Gonzalez, and two quick outs.
Rob:
All right, now this is him today. And check it out how good his location is, slider, strike one. This is to start off the game. And then a bad location right there to Fred Lewis. There you see another one down and in. That was the double by Ishikawa, and then another pitch to Burriss that was right there. And then…then you see the three-two breaking ball freezes a veteran, Edgar Renteria. So, it's really just a…a question of bearing down sometimes, focusing, and just saying, 'Listen, I'm not gonna leave the ball here. I'm gonna put it here. And I'm gonna make you hit my pitches.' Sometimes he's still just throwing a pitch instead of placing it where it should be. But that's all stuff that…uh…you know, when you made ten starts in the big leagues, it's…it's kinda hard to nitpick, but that's some of the stuff he's got to work on. Cause he's got everything. He's…he's as good as anybody I've seen at this level in a long time.
Bob:
And down left field away, pretty well hit. Adam Dunn over, he has it. And a one-two-three top of the fourth. Three one-two-three innings for Zimmermann so far. Top of the order straight ahead for the Nats.
Bottom 4
Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first);
N. Johnson walked;
Zimmerman flied to right;
Dunn popped to first;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Bob:
Well, familiar story in the Presidents' Race. Teddy the early lead again, Rob. He just cannot endure.
Rob:
That's just hard to believe that Teddy has not won a race, other than the match race against the Baltimore Oriole bird. He looks so good out of the gate. Just kind of fades away at the end.
Bob:
Hmm. Who's going to be the first National to get on base?
Rob:
All right, I want to give you some of Randy Johnson's video game numbers. Uhm…in almost 600 games started, over 4,000 innings pitched, only 3,305 hits coming into today. 1,485 walks. This is how…great his command is. And 4,843 strikeouts.
Bob:
Hmm.
Rob:
So only 1,485 walks over the course of that career. For a big, 6'10" guy that started out just throwing 100 miles an hour all over the place.
Rob:
It's the…that plane, though. 6'10" and comin' downhill, can you imagine, when he was throwing 98, what lefties thought?
Bob:
Yeah.
Rob:
Heh…'Please don't hit me!'
Bob:
Nick Johnson, by far the best swing against him. A double, maybe more, taken away by Aaron Rowand on a drive to left center back in the first inning.
Rob:
Besides the 300 wins, we may not see a guy over 100 complete games in a long time.
Bob:
Yeah, that's exactly his career total, and 37 of them shutouts. Another number that's gone the way of the Edsel.
Rob:
That the car you had in high school?
Bob:
Uncle had one.
Rob:
Heh heh heh. Edsel.
Bob:
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh.
Bob:
Ryan Zimmerman waiting.
Bob:
Ryan had a couple of hits his last two at bats on Tuesday, but he was two for 25 before that. Breaking ball and Nick rips it again, but he's late. Let's look at the great left-handers. Warren Spahn, he won tons of games after the age of 30. And then Carlton, Eddie Plank, the least-known, of course, on that…list
Rob:
Lefty Grove…
Bob:
Hmm.
Rob:
Randy Johnson could become the sixth lefty in the history of this game to win 300 games.
Bob:
And Johnson takes a fastball near his hands inside, two and two. I'm sure you'd have a hard time convincing Nick this was 89 miles an hour.
Rob:
Well, one-two pitch, right here on the inner half. He bites his tongue.
Bob:
And then there's no strike available on the outside part either. That was a breaking ball…
Rob:
That put flat…
Bob:
…that come off three and two.
Rob:
…flat slider right there. And he hasn't thrown many of those today.
Bob:
Nick Johnson has walked th…30 times this year. So Randy will have to throw a strike to get him out as a rule. And he won't, and there goes a potential perfect night for Randy Johnson, but he's still given up only one baserunner. One on, one out, Zimmerman coming up. Ryan Zimmerman hit a home run against Randy Johnson on Monday, May 11th in San Francisco, a sixth inning leadoff homer.
Rob:
Tsk, they'll eventually win that game 11-seven, the Unit went five innings, gave up four runs, three home runs in that game, nine strikeouts, no walks.
Bob:
That was Ryan Zimmerman's 29th game in a row with a hit. He went four for five that night with two home runs and four RBIs.
Rob:
That's a night to remember.
Bob:
Whoof! Two more hits…his first two at bats the next night, then he went hitless against Barry Zito and the Giants' bullpen in the Wednesday afternoon finale.
Rob:
Yes…
Bob:
Change-up misses.
Rob:
That was win number 298. He got win number 299 against Atlanta on the 27th of his last start.
Bob:
One and one. And Zimmerman will take it low and inside.
Bob:
He tails one right to the edge of the plate. And the count's even to Zimmerman, two and two.
Rob:
Teh heh heh. Look at that look. Heh heh heh. Ahem. 'Come on! Where's that pitch?'
Bob:
Tim Timmons thought it was good. Johnson tries to go out there again and Zimmerman pops it up. Randy Winn, right field, two outs.
Bob:
Join us this weekend, it's Thanksgiving in June as Chartese Burnett told us a few moments ago. Fans can drop off non-perishable food items at the center field gate. And that's from the time the gates open through the fourth inning. All food collected benefits the Capital Area Food Bank. It's been a great success here the last few years. So provide for those who need us to help them out in the DC community, and make your donations Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Bob:
Here's Adam Dunn, who struck out swinging first time, after the count had gone to three and oh. Whoa! Bengie Molina reached up so high the umpire was ducking.
Rob:
Hnn. Hnn. You don't see that too often.
Bob:
Reggie…Randy Johnson's 11th career start against our franchise, his first Major League club. A fastball's in there, one and one. Four and three with a 2.99 against the Expos and Nats.
Rob:
Ooh, that's gotta be one of the worst trades ever when he…uh…was treated to Seattle with Brian Holman and Gene Harris in exchange for Mark Langston and a player to be named later. Langston would leave and then go to the Angels the next year.
Bob:
Right upstairs, it's Ishikawa near the mound. And the Nats are still without a hit through four innings against Randy Johnson.
Top 5
Uribe flied to center;
Burriss grounded out (pitcher to first);
R. Johnson was called out on strikes;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Bob:
And it certainly a…appears that Randy Johnson doesn't want to pitch five innings and get six or seven runs of support tonight and give up four or five.
Rob:
No, he's being quite economical right now. He's coming right after us. He's attacking the strike zone, and this has been his calling card for 20-plus seasons. So, if he does get 300 today, it'll be just like he got the other 299. It's attack, attack, attack, and go right after the hitters.
Bob:
Jordan Zimmermann off to a pretty good start tonight. He's given up two runs on three hits, but…and I asked Manny yesterday, 'What can young pitchers learn from watching Randy Johnson?'
Bob:
He said, 'Pretty much nothing.'
Rob:
Heh heh heh heh.
Bob:
Because they're…they're not going to be 6'11"…
Rob:
Right.
Bob:
…with this kind of talent, this kind of longevity.
Rob:
Well, they can learn strike one is still the most important pitch. The one thing as I…as I wanted to point out with the walks and the strikeouts to innings pitched, is that he's always been strike one. He always works ahead, and regardless of the 100-mile-an-hour fastball, his…he always concentrated on putting you behind the 8-ball by getting ahead, and then getting to that slider. And that's always been his calling card. He was always like a two-pitch pitcher, and now he's going for win number 300, so it's not really a secret what he's done over his career.
Bob:
Juan Uribe hitting the ball well. Elijah Dukes going back on the ball well. And now Jordan Zimmermann has retired eight consecutive hitters. Bottom of the order, number eight man Emmanuel Burriss, and then Randy Johnson. Especially irritating in that two-run Giants second was Burriss' two-out hit on an oh-two pitch. Out of play, left side, one ball one strike.
Rob:
Well Craig Stammen did this the other day against…uh…Tim Lincecum. You…you got the reigning Cy Young award winner, you step up your game. And right now it looks like Jordan Zimmermann's settled down a little bit after the two runs in the second inning. And he has risen to the occasion.
Bob:
He's got the comebacker. And two quick outs. Randy Johnson has thrown 49 pitches, 33 strikes in four innings. He's put himself into position to pitch very deep into this game with that economical approach through his first 12 outs. Zimmermann struck him out swinging first time up.
Rob:
Heh heh…
Bob:
Some of the fans boo as the kid brushes back…
Rob:
Heh heh…
Bob:
…the 299-game winner. And that's two and oh. They're not gonna try to tire him out by letting him run the bases, are they?
Rob:
Well, I don't think you intentionally want to put him on base, but…
Bob:
He was pumping on two and oh, by the way.
Rob:
I think when the Unit's doing other than pitching, I don't…I'm not gonna say he doesn't put all of the best effort into it, but I don't think he exerts all of his energy. He saves that for the mound.
Bob:
Yeah. He's had 77 career hits. And that's three and one.
Rob:
One of his…uh…hobbies is photography. You gotta be pretty patient to always get your subject or your picture.
Bob:
Here's the three-one.
Rob:
I don't think he wants to run the bases either.
Bob:
I don't think he wants to go to first base.
Bob:
Randy Johnson's 22nd year in the big leagues. He's pitched 200 innings 14 times. He's caught looking. I don't think he minds. And this ballgame's going to the bottom of the fifth inning. Randy Johnson back to work. Young Zimmermann not bad himself.
Bottom 5
Dukes singled to center;
Molina allowed a passed ball [Dukes to second];
Kearns walked;
Belliard grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [Dukes to third, Kearns out at second];
Nieves grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Johnny:
…update. Well the Big Unit, Randy Johnson's already thrown two no-hitters and a perfect game. May 18th of 2004 for the D-Backs when they beat the Atlan…Arizona…oh uh…the Atlanta Braves, 2-nothing, when he was 40 years of age. Tonight, he's having a pretty good first four innings inthis ballgame.
Ray:
He is, Johnny, he's throwing nothing but strikes. He's got 75% strikes thrown. Uh, only eight pitches in the first inning, eight in the third, 15 in the…uh…second. And…uh…and 15 in the fourth. So…uh…he's just got his stuff. He doesn't throw as hard as he once did, but he's still got that great movement with the…uh…fastballs exploding up the strike zone. Throwing up a little bit more with his fastball. But always…u...uh, capable of punching out with that slider down around his shoetops.
Johnny:
And as everybody knows, he's going for career win number 300 tonight. But I tell you something, our guy Jordan Zimmermann not doing bad at all. Back to Bob and to Rob.
Bob:
Thank you gentlemen, and we'll look forward to Nats Extra between ballgames and after our nightcap tonight. 49 pitches, 33 strikes for Randy Johnson his first four innings. He'll face Elijah Dukes, Austin Kearns, and Ronnie Belliard, right-handers all.
Bob:
Couple of noteworthy things early in this game. Not only the Giants' two-run rally but also that play Aaron Rowand made out in center field in the first inning. The Nats had the possibility of their second hitter of the night getting a hit. And now 13 hitters have been up there without anybody having one. Nick Johnson a walk and that's been it offensively for Washington. None of the other balls really hit with any kind of authority. Two strikeouts and the one walk. Seven ground ball outs.
Bob:
Elijah Dukes pulled the ball to third base first time up. And it's two and one.
Rob:
Well over the last 50 years, of the 11 eventual 300-game winners, only four won their 300th game on their first attempt.
Bob:
Broken bat and Dukes has a base hit! Maybe one of the few men in the league strong enough to have a bat explode and still get a ground ball between the middle infielders. And the Nationals have their first base hit of the night by the leadoff hitter in the fifth!
Rob:
Well it's a good pitch, down and away fastball, and Elijah Dukes just hits it as hard as he can. His bat snaps in his hand, but a single's a single. First one off of Randy Johnson in the first four-plus innings.
Bob:
Here's Austin Kearns.
Rob:
I'm sure his hands don't feel too good right now.
Bob:
Hnn hnn.
Rob:
Heh. Don't rub it!
Bob:
First pitch changeup to Kearns. Randy Johnson pretty much blew him away with fastballs first time up. Bottom of the fifth inning, two-nothing Giants. RBIs by Juan Uribe, a grounder; Emmanuel Burriss a single; after Lewis had singled and Ishikawa doubled off the glove of Nick Johnson.
Bob:
That's upstairs, two and oh.
Bob:
Nationals had four runs, eight hits against Johnson in five-plus innings, even though he struck out nine and didn't walk a batter on May 11th. That ball's off the glove of Molina! Down to second goes Dukes and it's three and oh to Kearns. Don't know if there was a cross-up there. Bengie Molina will be assessed a passed ball, and he's a reliable catcher.
Rob:
Here's Bengie Molina, setting up right there, going on the outer half, and that ball kinda cuts. Sometimes that happens with a four-seam fastball that you're just trying to get over for a strike. That fingers just over the wrong side of the ball, and moves a little bit too much even the catcher didn't expect it.
Bob:
Back-to-back Gold Gloves for Molina, '02 and '03 when he was an Angel.
Bob:
That's a four-pitch walk to Kearns! Second walk of the game by Randy Johnson, and now three of the last five Nationals have been on base.
Bob:
Here's a programming note from MASN. A week from Saturday, the Nats will be at Tampa Bay to take on the Rays. Because of Major League Baseball's national blackout window between 1:10 and 7:05, MASN will join the game in progress with live coverage starting at 7:05. Tampa Bay, they can play their home games whenever they want. They've chosen six o'clock, and so we cannot show you any baseball until 7:05. So you can follow the game at MASNSports.com with live game blogs.
Bob:
Aww, look at that play. Emmanuel Burriss, a four-six-three double play, that was remarkable! And that's the kind of play that could win a ballgame for a guy, whether it's 300 or something way fewer than that. Wow!
Rob:
This is remarkable as Bob said. This is a smash, one-hopper off the mound by Ronnie Belliard. Burriss just has no time to go to his…his…uh…hand, he just throws it with the glove, right here. Watch this feed too, perfectly to Renteria, and that's a four-six-three as good as you'll ever see.
Bob:
If he doesn't make that play, it's first and third, and the Nats have a run in. And now it's a runner at third, two outs, and Wil Nieves the batter.
Rob:
Well, if the ball doesn't hit the mound, that ball's into center field.
Bob:
Offspeed pitch, Wil takes it. He rolled over a ground ball to the shortstop first time. Well Emmanuel Burriss, the kid out of Woodrow Wilson High School's been a factor in this game. He gave the Giants their second run with a two-out hit, and he just took away at least one, and maybe more.
Bob:
Wil Nieves saw a pitch up and he was coming out of his shoelaces on that one.
Bob:
Right down the middle, and the count's one and two.
Rob:
Over the course of his career, he's had two different back surgeries in the last five years. About ten years earlier than that he had the…go on the Disabled List with a herniated disc in his back, so he's battled a bad back his entire career.
Bob:
Target in. Nieves a two-hopper to Burriss. Emmanuel Burriss keeps the Giants ahead, giving Randy Johnson tremendous support in a scoreless fifth inning.
Top 6
Rowand grounded out (third to first);
Renteria grounded out (third to first);
Winn popped to third;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Bob:
…Rewind. A young pitcher going for his third Major League win and throwing the ball very well early, totally handling the top of the Giants lineup. But a pitcher just a little bit older going for number 300. And he's handling everybody in the Nats lineup. Randy Johnson's walked a couple, a broken-bat single, and that's all from AT&T, the nation's fastest 3G network. AT&T, Your World Delivered.
Bob:
Zimmerman, to his left, and he retires Aaron Rowand leading off the top of the sixth.
Bob:
Coming into this inning, Jordan Zimmermann 83 pitches, 58 strikes, a great strike-to-total-pitch ratio. But a couple of balls in the second inning just a little too good. And here's Renteria. But he'll take two runs on three hits through five for a young pitcher like this anytime. The guy the Nats are facing tonight just a little better.
Rob:
And that's the key, I mean, pitching is trying to keep your team in the game long enough to give you an opportunity to win. I had a great conversation with Steve M…Steve McCatty, the new pitching coach today, about that fact. Doesn't matter if you give up nine and your team scores ten, you win. You've done your job. There's the new pitching coach, Steve McCatty. However you get it done, get it done. Just get some victories. Go out there, keep your team in it. That's what pitching's all about. That's how you get to 300. I'm sure there's been some games where Randy Johnson didn't have his best stuff, but he gave his team an opportunity to win, and he took home the victory and helped his team take home a victory.
Bob:
Yeah, when he was in his prime, I bet he had some bad nights when he gave up two, three runs.
Rob:
Hah hah hah. There's also been…there was a stretch in his career where his teams were not scoring him any runs. He probably woulda got 300 a couple years ago.
Bob:
Well I saw him throw a two-hitter one night and the other kid threw a no-hitter.
Rob:
Yep, I actually worked that game. We talked about that.
Bob:
Jordan…or rather Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann teaming up right there to throw out Edgar Renteria.
Bob:
Get your red on and come out to the ballpark next Tuesday for the 2009 Draft Party. All the latest news live on the scoreboard as the Nats will have the number one and number ten picks. First 10,000 fans receive free 2009 Draft Party T-shirts, so a little variation on T-shirt Tuesday. So come to the Draft Party. 888-632-NATS or Nationals.com.
Rob:
Wasn't the guy's name like Jimenez, with the Cardinals?
Bob:
Jose Jimenez. He was a…
Rob:
Yep.
Bob:
…rookie who threw a no-hitter in Phoenix that night. And then about a week later, they…the same two pitchers hooked up in St. Louis, and I think Randy Johnson gave up two runs, and the kid gave up one. He was beaten by the same pitcher two starts in a row while pitching brilliantly himself.
Rob:
And where's Jose now?
Bob:
The last I heard of him, he was closing in Colorado a couple of years ago, and that…that was about it. Randy Johnson's just about outlasted anybody he ever pitched against. Except for those not born when he threw his first pitch, like tonight's opponent, as Debbi Taylor told us earlier. Randy Winn pops it up left side. Nieves or Zimmerman, and the Nats always like Zimmerman to take charge on those, and Jordan Zimmermann now has retired 13 Giants in a row.
Bottom 6
HERNANDEZ BATTED FOR ZIMMERMANN;
Hernandez grounded out (pitcher to first);
Gonzalez reached on an error by Renteria;
N. Johnson doubled to left [Gonzalez scored];
Zimmerman grounded out (shortstop to first) [N. Johnson to third];
Dunn popped to third;
1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
Debbi:
…Randy Johnson and the Giants by a score of two to nothing as we move to the bottom of the inning. Now all of the foul balls that are hit tonight are going to be collected and authenticated. A lot going on here. There are going to be three sets of bases that will also be saved as Randy Johnson goes for win number 300. His entire uniform will be put aside. They're even going to collect some dirt from the pitching mound after the game, and they're going to take the rubber. All of that for Randy Johnson's 300th win. Now, of course, if he doesn't get it, all of the Nats stuff will go back to the team.
Bob:
Well I would hope so, K…Debbi. It belongs to our ballclub.
Rob:
Heh.
Bob:
But they'll be happy to donate it if history does take place. Jordan Zimmermann is done for the night. This is life in the National League. You're pitching very well, but you're down by a couple, and Manny Acta needs some offense here. Anderson Hernandez off the glove of Randy Johnson. Collects himself, th…almost throws the ball away, and Ishikawa made a fine play.
Bob:
Well, Johnson helps there, Rob, but the Giants are throwing some serious glovework at the Nats here today.
Rob:
Well, if it's not a second baseman diving for balls, it's Randy Johnson that had to basically rush the throw and throw it, and fall on an off-balance throw. Let's take a look at this replay right here. Here’s the Big Unit. Knocks it down with his glove, and then he makes a terrific feed over to Ishikawa at first base. Watch this. That's a big man. Timberrr! 6'10"…
Bob: Wow.
Rob:
…45, and still getting it done. That's the one thing Jamie Moyer's talked about it, at his age, is the movement, being able to field your position when you're in your mid-40s. That's the tougher part of the game. Here's the wet ball right here, as you see the shine on it. Big Unit making a big play for himself and his teammates.
Bob:
Nice work by our crew to spot that ball and how wet it was after rolling maybe ten feet on the infield grass. Top of the order now. Alberto Gonzalez and then Nick Johnson.
Rob:
There's that good slider down and in right at the feet. God, how many thousands of sliders he's thrown over his career.
Bob:
Nationals box score basically nothing doing. Ron Villone takes over for Zimmermann when the Giants bat in the seventh. Jordan only gave up two runs on three hits. It was all in one inning. That ball hit sharply to Edgar Renteria. And it's off the glove of Ishikawa! A tailing throw that appeared to be catchable. Somebody's getting an error.
Rob:
Well, Renteria right there, throws it and it starts to just kinda tail and dive. Maybe it slipped out of his hand. I'd say that's an error on the throw.
Bob:
You are correct, Edgar Renteria's fifth of the year. And here's Nick Johnson. Only the Nationals' fourth baserunner in this game.
Rob:
You only have a split second to pick the ball up and pick it out of your glove, and obviously it was soaking wet. He probably didn't have a good grip on it. Threw basically like a spitball to first base.
Bob:
Now how would you know how a spitball reacts?
Rob:
Mmm, I played with somebody that threw one.
Bob:
Oh, okay. Heh heh heh heh heh heh.
Rob:
I won't tell you what the substance was, but I'll tell you where he put it. He put it on his gums. So it looked like when he was going to his mouth to, you know, get some moisture on and get a grip for the ball, he actually was getting it off his gums.
Bob:
Hmm.
Rob:
So he could…uh…get it on the ball.
Bob:
Offspeed, and Nick takes it low. Nick Johnson robbed of an extra-base hit by Rowand in the first, and then walked in the fourth.
Bob:
That's in there.
Rob:
In 2002, Randy Johnson became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to strike out at least 300 batters in five consecutive seasons, and that was while he was winning his fourth…
Bob:
Hmm.
Rob: …consecutive Cy Young award. Talk about dominant! Johnson and Johnson side by side!
Bob:
And Nick will take that hard breaking ball outside, two and two.
Rob:
All we need is Howard Johnson out in the field and you go…
Bob:
Heh heh heh
Rob:
…'Johnson hits it off Johnson to Johnson!' Cheh.
Bob:
There's been a lot of those namesakes in this league. And a two-two to Nick. That ball's drilled to the gap in left-center! That wet ball is going to the wall! And that quick runner Gonzalez is coming home! A little trouble by Lewis picking up the ball, and the Nationals are on the scoreboard. And the error comes back to really hurt the Giants. Nick Johnson's had t…the best two swings at Randy Johnson tonight. And for Nick his 27th RBI.
Rob:
Would have been his second hit of the night had Aaron Rowand not made a super play in the first inning. Right there he just gets a fastball away, he smokes it into left-center field which he's been doing the entire season. And there you see Gonzalez chugging around third, easily scoring, and Nick pulls up at second with a double.
Bob:
Now the Nats a base hit away from tying this game. So the Giants gave the Nationals an extra out and Washington has made them pay. That was only their 28th error of the year. Nationals bottom of the league but the Giants are sixth in the National League in team defense.
Bob:
And Bruce Bochy has to be a little irritated by that. Zimmerman bounces it to the shortstop Renteria. Another throw low but that one grabbed by Ishikawa. Two outs.
Rob:
Another sinker right there by Renteria.
Bob:
Edgar's always thrown the ball pretty much sidearmed, and that will do some sailing and sinking. Adam Dunn coming up, we check in on trivia.
Duck:
Aflac!
Bob:
The most wins this decade, which two pitchers? Hmm.
Bob:
Up and in to Adam Dunn.
Rob:
This decade…I'm thinking Andy Pettitte and Roy Halladay. Naw, maybe Johan Santana. Santana's won a lot of games.
Rob:
That's a tough one.
Bob:
That is foul outside first.
Bob:
Elijah Dukes had the first Nationals hit, a broken-bat base hit up the middle leading off last inning. So here we are with two outs in the sixth, tying run's at third. Adam Dunn has struck out and popped up. And he pops up again. Juan Uribe. The Nationals pick up an unearned run on the error by Renteria. The Johnson double, and it's a two-one game into the seventh.
Top 7
VILLONE REPLACED HERNANDEZ (PITCHING);
Molina popped to first;
Lewis grounded out (first unassisted);
Ishikawa was called out on strikes;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
Bob:
…Baseball on MASN, brought to you by Southwest Airlines. Book your next trip at Southwest.com. And by PNC Bank. PNC, we lead the way.
Bob:
Having a good time at the Red Loft and the Red Porch right below there tonight. Fans were gathered out there safe from the downpour last evening. So here we go into the seventh inning. New Nats pitcher, Ron Villone. He's becoming a mainstay of this staff. This will be his 17th appearance. Only three pitchers on the staff have thrown in more ballgames.
Rob:
I'm gonna go with Randy Johnson and Tom Glavine.
Bob:
Okay. My first reaction would have been Roy Halladay, the picture of consistency north of the border. And on Villone's first pitch, Bengie Molina pops it up to Nick Johnson. Ron Villone was a big key to the Nats' 10-6 win on Tuesday night. He kept the ballgame close, Rob, for five key outs until the Nats could rally with that big eighth inning.
Rob:
And that's what he's been doing since he joined the Nationals. He came up, gave us five strong outs, got everybody fired up, and gave the team an opportunity to come back and take the lead in that Lincecum start, and win the ballgame.
Bob:
Fred Lewis one for two tonight. Villone comes out and does it by throwing strikes, but at the same time he's not afraid to have the other team hit the ball.
Bob:
He did strike out his first two men on Tuesday night, Randy Winn and Bengie Molina, but then Sandoval flied out to left, ground ball by Lewis to third, ground ball by Uribe to second. Mike MacDougal is working. And Ron Villone had great success against right-handed batters in that game. Ground ball, Nick Johnson! That's why they call him "Slick" down there at first base, a very good play that kept that ball from going down the right field line.
Bob:
Home Depot covers the bases with us, and later tonight Ross Detwiler will be joining us. He's gonna start the game, of course, but we'll be talking about him as Debbi helps us cover the bases with the young man from the St. Louis area. You will see him in his high school football uniform. I mean, what's better than that? Bases empty, two outs, and here's Travis Ishikawa.
Rob:
I don't know, I'd rather see it…him with a girl he took to the senior prom.
Bob:
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh.
Rob:
I mean…
Bob:
I hope she didn't turn…
Rob:
…we look back our tuxedos back in the day, I mean. I know I had a blue velour one, one…one year, way back in the 70s and 80s.
Bob:
Whew!
Rob:
I mean, when you were going to sock hops in the 50s, what were you wearing?
Bob:
Mm-hmm. Bobby socks.
Rob:
Hah hah hah hah hah hah hah
Bob:
Heh heh heh heh. Rolled-up blue jeans. Teh heh heh.
Rob:
D'you take…did you…do you...but, I know you didn't smoke, but did you fake it, put a pack of smokes in your T-shirt?
Bob:
My mom woulda killed me if I even thinked it.
Rob:
Awwww. Ho ho ho ho ho. Not Bobby Carpenter! Bobby.
Bob:
T…but we did take our short-sleeved white shirts and take those sleeves and rolled them up to our shoulders.
Rob:
Mm-hmm. I got to get you some ink. Gotta get you a tatttoo.
Bob:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Forget it.
Rob:
Come on! Get your wife and your kids' names on there.
Bob:
If the Nats win the division you can ink me up.
Rob:
All right! That's a bet!
Bob:
I didn't say what year.
Rob:
Heh heh heh heh ha ha ha.
Bob:
Heh heh heh. Let's hope it's soon! And on the corner, two balls two strikes to Ishikawa, who's doubled in two trips. His double really was the big hit in that second inning, even though it didn't drive in a run. It got the Giants second and third, one out. They scored on a grounder and then a two-out hit. Right on the outer half! And Ron Villone is red-hot out of the Nats bullpen! Bottom of the seventh, Elijah Dukes! Now the Nats have already come from behind…
Bottom 7
MEDDERS REPLACED R. JOHNSON (PITCHING);
Dukes struck out;
Kearns struck out;
Belliard popped to second;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
Johnny: Here's Johnny Holliday along with Ray Knight. A two-one ballgame, the Nats had finally gotten Randy Johnson out of there. He had a no-hitter through four innings. And, uh, it's a…kind of a brand new ballgame for this ballclub, and we're hoping they can come back and get this thing in the win column.
Ray:
Well you kinda, you…
Johnny:
…and it's great too.
Ray:
Yeah, it'll be great. And…and, uh, right now Randy stands to win his 300th game, but what a great job Zimmermann did today, Johnny. Just the two runs early. No walks, seven strikeouts, uh, 92 pitches and just held them down. They didn't even hit the ball hard. So, uh, great ballgame so far.
Johnny:
We'll take a look and see what some of the National farm clubs are doing right now. Take a look at this in the minor leagues in the scoreboard. Triple A Syracuse and Scranton, they are one-one in the third, and Marco Estrada, Ray. Two innings pitched, a couple of strikeouts in that ballgame. You like him?
Ray:
Yeah, Johnny, I…I do like him. He's gotten 14 strikeouts his last 17 innings pitched.
Johnny:
And Myrtle Beach-Potomac later on tonight, Lake County and Hagerstown as well. Two-one, the Nationals trail, trying to get back in this baby. Let's go back upstairs to Bob and Rob
Bob:
Thank you gentlemen, and not to be lost in all of this how well the Nationals have pitched tonight. Rob Dibble and I think that Randy Johnson might have…be out of this game because he hurt himself on a play that we'll talk about. He only threw 78 pitches over six innings, and now the Giants bullpen will have to shut down the Nats for three innings to get him that win.
Rob:
Well there's two different times that I felt that Randy Johnson may have injured himself just slightly. I mean, but when you're 45 little nicks and things like that kinda get you. Early in the game he tried to knock down a ball up the middle, may have clipped his pinkie on his pitching hand. And then that play, that great play he made at first base. Um, when he threw the ball to first, he landed on his left pitching arm shoulder, and he got up and he was like 'Man, I think my shoulder's hurting a little bit.' So maybe that's why he's out of the ballgame, cause 78 pitches doesn't seem like an awful lot from Randy Johnson.
Bob:
Nope. He gives up one unearned run on two hits, two walks. And a one-two to Dukes, and he gets around a little bit late. Randy Johnson struck out two batters and threw 78 pitches, 50 strikes.
Rob:
Yeah, I was gonna say. He threw so well. Fif…50, 78, 12 first-pitch strikes.
Bob:
Well, we were talking about the low pitch count early in the game.
Rob:
Well.
Bob:
He averaged only 12 pitches per inning his first four, then he had a 13-pitch inning, and then 16 in the sixth. Rain coming down steadily, a little harder than it has been for a while. And Dukes swings through a big breaking ball by Brandon Medders, who appeared in 135 over four years for Arizona. All right, Rob, take it away on Randy Johnson.
Rob:
Well this is the possible injury right here. He's gonna knock the ball down as it's hit back up the middle. And he's running, he's stumbling a little bit. And as he throw…now watch the left shoulder. Bang! He kinda jams the elbow back up into the shoulder right there as he leaves his feet, and he hits hard. And then when he re…come up, he was kinda fiddlin' with his arm a little bit like he had injured himself.
Bob:
And that was the at-bat by Anderson Hernandez hitting for Zimmermann right before Renteria made a bad throw on the grounder by Gonzalez and prior to Nick Johnson's double. Austin Kearns 0 for one with a walk, and that ball's up and away, one and one.
Rob:
Yeah the red…rain's steadily coming down. That's what we were told before the game that we had a window to play this one, maybe not the second one. I talked to Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow before the game. He said, 'Listen, we play one of these games, and neither one of us are in the playoff hunt later in the season, probably won't make it up. But if it's a double-header they'll probably find a way to do it, maybe over the All-Star break or some other time.'
Bob:
Yeah, so getting one game played really important. And here's a breaking ball for a strike. And Austin Kearns is eight for his last 49. Two outs.
Duck:
Aflac!
Bob:
All right, the winningest pitchers since the year 2000. Is Randy Johnson one of them? Tom Glavine was Rob's other guess.
Rob:
Andy Pettitte!
Bob:
Did mention Andy Pettitte.
Rob:
Ugh. Shoulda stuck with my first, uh, instinct. Yeah, Andy Pettitte's won a ton of games in this decade. Tom Glavine got his 300th. Maddux got over 350. But Andy Pettitte, I don't know if Andy…did Andy win last night for the Yankees? Cause he started last night before the game 220, and Moyer is 250 behind, uh…those are the immediate closing in on 300 guys.
Bob:
Yeah, we got some big-time raindrops coming down. Ronnie Belliard pops out to Burriss. Going to the eighth inning as the umpires keep an eye on the weather.
Top 8
MACDOUGAL REPLACED VILLONE (PITCHING);
Uribe popped to first;
Burriss grounded out (second to first);
Medders was called out on strikes;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
Bob:
Here's our game summary. Two-one, Randy Johnson is in line for the win, but a ways to go in the rain in this one. He goes six innings, no earned run, couple of hits, couple of walks, couple of strikeouts. Nick Johnson had the two best swings against Randy in this game. Aaron Rowand took a double away from him in the first, and then Nick doubled a run in in the sixth. Jordan Zimmermann not bad himself, one of his better outings. All three of the hits and both of the runs came in that second inning. Except for that inning, Jordan Zimmermann had five one-two-three frames tonight. And now Mike MacDougal will take over. And I know what Manny's thinking here, Rob. Because of Ron Villone and what he just did, Ron Villone's gonna be available for the nightcap tonight. He threw very few pitches to get those three outs in the seventh. It is really raining hard here. Now during the between-innings break, crew chief Jeff Kellogg, who is at second base, he came in, talked to the other umpires. They inspected the infield. You just wonder how long it'll go like this before we have a stoppage.
Rob:
Well you just wanna make sure the playing surface is not dangerous to the players. You don't want anybody on either side to get injured on this field. So they'll play in the rain as long as you have drainage, and as you said, early in the…uh…the ballgame, this field is tremendous. It's a brand new ballpark. The drainage system here is impeccable. And, uh…it's fun to actually watch these guys get rid of the water after they take it off the tarp. They bring it over to the drains, and it's sucked outta here and it's off the field. It's almost like an AstroTurf field.
Bob:
Mm-hmm.
Bob:
That's a breaking ball, fouled off to the right. MacDougal to Juan Uribe here in the eighth. Been a very well-played game. Obviously well pitched by both starters and Ron Villone and Medders for that matter, in the first seven.
Bob:
And a popup right side. Somebody's looking up into the raindrops here. It's Nick Johnson, one-hander for the out.
Bob:
Frost-brewed Coors Light, the world's most refreshing beer. And the play of the game on the Ronnie Belliard at-bat, Rob, in the fifth inning.
Rob:
Well, Burriss right here, if it does not hit the mound this is a base hit. He's also in, and there's the freeze-it right there, guys. Beautiful play. He lays out, tremendous. Flips it with the glove to Renteria. Four-six-three. You're not gonna see anything better than that. Here's your Coors Light Freeze-Frame.
Bob:
First pitch swinging, Emmanuel Burriss, the man we address, grounds out to Ronnie Belliard, and the Giants now…
Rob:
I mean everything had to go well on that play. He's in ten feet, playing at double-play depth. It hits the mound, he lays out perfectly. Can't transition to his, uh…skin hand. And then he flips it up and then it's just a beautiful play like that. That's how get no-hitters and 300 wins, I guess.
Bob:
And that's another reason why some second basemen wear small gloves.
Rob:
Great point.
Bob:
F…for the double play and it also helps when you can shovel a ball out of there.
Rob:
Great throw-in there, Bobby.
Bob:
Yeah, you can't do that with a big old outfielder's.
Rob:
I agree, I mean, you shouldn't be using a third baseman's mitt at second base. I mean, there's a reason why…I mean, Ron Oester, I played with him in Cincinnati. He was the most amazing at turning a double play. He caught the ball in the back of his glove. He was old-school. I mean they practiced that, you know, they…the shortstop would flip to you, you catch it on the back of your glove, you never even get it inside your glove and you flip it over to first base.
Bob:
Hmm. This is Brandon Medders who had a very quick bottom of the seventh pitching to the Nats.
Rob:
Heh heh heh. That's a bad swing.
Bob:
He's probably not feeling real good about being up there.
Rob:
No. That is…
Bob:
Just his first-at bat of the year, and he's 0 for three career.
Rob:
This is a self-preservation hack if I've ever seen one. 'Look out! I don't want to get hit! Oh!' Northrup Grummon there, on the Pitch Track.
Bob:
See ya.
Rob:
Mmm, thanks for coming up there.
Bob:
And a very quick top of the eighth. Nieves, the number nine spot, and then Gonzalez for the Nats, down by one.
Bottom 8
Nieves singled to center;
Bob:
…brought to you by Southwest Airlines. Book your next trip at Southwest.com. And by Northrup Grummon, the information systems powerhouse. How can you possibly pick out which cap? Might have to buy every one of them.
Rob:
I want one of each.
Bob:
And by the way, you can buy four ballgames and get five. It's the Grand Slam Flex Plan. By the way Giants two, Nats one. Ground crew working on the infield here. You can enjoy ultimate flexibility, pick your plan, your games, your seats. Get a free game, and find out about the Grand Slam Flex Plan. Call 202-675-NATS. Visit Nationals.com/GrandSlam, then you can tell your neighbors, "I did just what Adam Dunn did against the Orioles. I just hit a Grand Slam."
Bob:
They call this compound "Turfus." It mixes in with the dirt, kind of a sandy mix to soak up as much moisture as possible. And the umpires will pick out certain spots on the dirt part of the infield. The guys will spread it, they'll rake it in, get it all mixed up, and then they'll grab their big old sacks and hit the bricks. Looks like they used all of…all but one of the bags they brought out to do some groundskeeping here in the between-top-and-bottom of the eighth.
Bob:
It's going to be Wil Nieves, Cristian Guzman, and Alberto Gonzalez against Brandon Medders. Nationals down two to one. Nieves 0 for two, couple of ground balls.
Bob:
Nationals didn't see Medders during their big rally late in the game on Tuesday night. They got those runs against Bob Howry, usually reliable, and then the young man Merkin Valdez. There's Joel Hanrahan for the ninth.
Rob:
I gotta tell you, like that, uh…well, what'd you call that? I call it "kitty litter." What'd you call that?
Bob:
"Turfus."
Rob:
"Turfus"? Okay. You get that Turfus in your spikes, it is a nightmare trying to get it off.
Bob:
Yeah.
Rob:
It is like glue. Like you say, it sops up the water, but that stuff gets gummy.
Bob:
Wil Nieves to right-center! That ball hits the grass…
Rob:
Almost…
Bob:
…and then Aaron Rowand does a good job of getting his body behind it.
Rob:
Yep.
Bob:
That's the most important thing for an outfielder now, is to make sure you're not reaching out to try to cut a ball like that off.
Rob:
And that's a great point, Bob, because, you know what? You're not going to be able to make some amazing defensive play to cut off balls. You're just gonna keep from skipping by you. And there you saw how the…the different path that Aaron Rowand took than a normal dry surface. He had to kinda corral that ball. I think Bruce Bochy's seen enough of Mr. Medders.
Bob:
So Guzman is coming on. Their only lefty is Jeremy Affeldt. And the Nats did quite well against him on Tuesday night.
GUZMAN BATTED FOR MACDOUGAL;
AFFELDT REPLACED MEDDERS (PITCHING);
Guzman flied to center;
Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first) [Nieves to second];
N. Johnson walked;
Bob:
…the ballpark tonight. The Giants leading the Nationals two to one. We go bottom eight. And the Nats already have a baserunner aboard. This is a tough situation now for the Giants, because everything, any ball hit on the ground, any line drive becomes an adventure.
Rob:
Absolutely, I mean, in the outfield, the ball's…it…it's so slick and it's gonna pick up speed soon as it hits that wet grass. It's gonna take off and shoot by somebody. So more importantly than trying to get this 300 victory for Randy Johnson, you're trying to preserve a win. The Giants are trying to play better on the road. There's a lot of different things going on out there. And especially…ah…you know, the playing conditions are getting worse, and you're just trying to finish off the game. You don't want to get too fast trying to do too much, and possibly end up losing this ballgame. So Jeremy Affeldt right now, probably going to try to get a lit…get some ground balls and keep the ball on the infield.
Bob:
Yeah, he's been one of the Giants' best relievers lately, but the Nats got to him to get that thing going on Tuesday night. Guzman goes up swinging, fly ball right-center. That's not gonna work. One out. I just always wonder about a…about an at-bat where you're seeing a pitcher for the first time, and boom! You're swinging on the first delivery. Easy out.
Rob:
Well, I…
Bob:
Guzman was not slated to start last night. He didn't start today because of Randy Johnson, and he was up there batting right-handed against a lefty.
Rob:
You're talking a one-run ballgame, no outs in the eighth inning. A guy just comes out of the bullpen. Sometimes that's a good time to lay down a bunt on this surface.
Bob:
Yeah, that's a good thought. Here's Gonzalez. Conventional wisdom usually that you play for the tie at home because you always get the last at-bat. But Guzman, first pitch swinging, hits a can of corn to right-center.
Rob:
And he's now three for 15 off Affeldt, so you…you know, mighta want to sacrifice the runner to second base here in this one-run ballgame.
Bob:
Guzman by the way eight for his last 47.
Bob:
The Nats had the runner on the move. Renteria throws to first, two outs. I thought they might try a straight steal before that, but they do have Nick Johnson coming up. And if he could get a couple of good swings against Randy Johnson, he can against Jeremy Affeldt. Hah hah. Ron Custer…
Rob:
Heh heh heh
Bob:
…from Ocean View. I just used that phrase, "can of corn" on an easy fly ball. I don't know where it comes from, it…but it's always referred to a fly ball to the outfield that was just an E-A-S-Y out. Easy.
Rob:
I think it's referring to a can of corn on the top shelf in a supermarket. And it's just…it's up there, you gotta go up there and get it, but it's gonna come down.
Bob:
So you just knock it down and catch it in your apron if you're the, uh…
Rob:
Yeah.
Bob:
…supermarket boy, huh?
Rob:
Yeah, if you're the stockboy.
Bob:
Mmm.
Rob:
I've been a stockboy.
Bob:
So have I.
Rob:
I like cream of corn.
Bob:
That's as…that's as good of a theory as any. Top shelf. I cannot believe the immediate response of that e-mail.
Rob:
Heh.
Bob:
I feel like Albert Brooks. I say it here and it comes out there. Here's Nick, one for two with a walk and an RBI double. He could tie the game with a base hit, and take away Randy Johnson's chance at 300.
Rob:
Well I know on the bench when I was playing, we used to say, 'Ah, you know, we've got a guy there a hundred years.' It's the same thing. I mean…
Bob:
Easy out.
Rob:
Easy out.
Bob:
Yeah, that was our point. Guzman went up first pitch swinging. You'd like it to make it tougher on the pitcher than that.
Bob:
That's a good pitch on two and oh. He tailed one right under Nick Johnson's hands.
Rob:
Let's check this last pitch out here on the Northrup Grummon Pitch Track, there it is. Little cutter, comes back across the plate, froze Nick in the box.
Bob:
The information systems powerhouse, Northrup Grummon, with our Pitch Track. I don't think he wants to throw another one there. That's a breaking ball that's low, three and one. Giants have a right-hander working. It's possible Affeldt will not face Ryan Zimmerman. And it's their closer Brian Wilson. So that's how crucial Bruce Bochy considers this eighth inning. If Wilson doesn't come in, of course, he'll be ready for the ninth. He has 12 saves.
Bob:
Three and two now.
Rob:
That's low heat by Affeldt. Nick Johnson trying to bail and wail on that one. Watch this hack. Heh heh heh heh.
Bob:
That appeared to be ball four. Nick doesn't often help out the opposing pitcher.
Rob:
Well he doesn't…not often take a cut like that either.
Bob:
And a breaking ball will be a walk and two on! Yeah, that's the Nick Johnson we know, walking twice tonight and 32 times this year.
Rob:
Well Bruce Bochy will come out and get his pitcher and bring in Wilson.
Bob:
So the ballgame's on the line right here right now in the eighth inning. Nick's aboard, Zimmerman coming up, and their closer coming in.
WILSON REPLACED AFFELDT (PITCHING);
Zimmerman walked [Nieves to third, N. Johnson to second];
Dunn was called out on strikes;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
Bob:
…two in the double-header tonight, and Brian Wilson the closer on. Later tonight Matt Cain, six and one with the league's third-best ERA at 2.31 against the Nats. And the sweet left-handed delivery of a Ross Detwiler. We'll cover the bases with Ross during the ballgame. We were expecting to be talking to his brother Will. And that'll be a lot of fun as we look forward to nightcap, as we used to call it. Oh, sorry, Wes, brother Wes.
Bob:
27-year-old Brian Wilson, 6'1", 196, and one of the better closers in the league right now. He faces Zimmerman and misses. So this could be the ballgame right here for the Nats. Adam Dunn is on deck to either bat here in a big inning, or lead off the ninth. Ryan is 0 for three, and four for his last 30. Breaking ball outside, two and oh.
Rob:
Well San Francisco stands at .500 right now. Yes, you're trying to get Randy Johnson the 300 win, but as you said, they're not playing well at all on the road, seven and 16.
Bob:
Two and oh to Ryan. Fastball right by him, 95.
Rob:
This is a good pitch to go out and try to hit a home run on. Two and oh, 95…
Bob: You know what…
Rob:
…down Broadway, but now cut down on the swing and try to get a base hit here.
Bob:
…I saw that head moving a little more than it was moving a couple weeks ago.
Bob:
Way outside, and we are one pitch away from Adam Dunn batting with the bases loaded.
Rob:
There you see the defense.
Bob:
Bases loaded, Adam Dunn coming up, and the tying run will be at third base. The Nationals have been given their fourth walk of the night. So Wil Nieves singled leading off the inning. After Guzman pinch-hit, flew out on the first pitch and Gonzalez grounded out, Nick Johnson walked and now so has Ryan Zimmerman. Giants employing their third pitcher this inning.
Rob:
Zimm…Dunn has no at-bats off Wilson in his career, and Zimmerman was two for four. Just surprising that he pitched around him like that with the two sliders.
Bob:
Up and in, ball one! Boy what a horrible way that would be to take a potential win away from Randy Johnson in that he walked the bases loaded and then walked in a runner. Dunn's been great with the bases loaded, grand slam against Baltimore in this ballpark. And that was right in that big hole of his swing. Most hitters will have a hole in their swing up and in like that.
Rob:
Well, at 96 up and in…
Bob:
Heh heh
Rob:
…that's going to give you a hole also. Cut down a little bit. Just need a base hit right here to take the lead.
Bob:
Adam Dunn fouls it straight back. The Giants, by the way, are playing their defense straight up on the infield because the bases are loaded. Adam Dunn hardly ever looks out and sees such a defensive alignment. Lot of fans are standing. They know this at-bat may decide Randy Johnson's fate on this night.
Bob:
Ball two.
Rob:
Heh heh.
Bob:
And you know the people who are booing are the ones sitting on the first and third base side who had no idea that ball was a foot outside. Elijah Dukes next if the inning continues.
Bob:
That's upstairs, ball three! Adam Dunn has walked 40 times this year, third most in the league.
Bob:
He w…
Rob:
Oh!
Bob:
…calls him out!
Rob:
Ho! Oh ho! Ho ho!
Bob:
Tim Timmons! And Adam Dunn cannot believe it! We've seen many umpires forget that this man is six foot six. Unbelievable!
Top 9
HANRAHAN REPLACED GUZMAN (PITCHING);
Rowand singled to center;
Renteria doubled to left [Rowand to third];
Winn doubled to left [Rowand scored, Renteria scored];
Molina singled to center [Winn to third];
Rob:
…Giants two to one in this ballgame. Bruce Bochy elected to go with closer Brian Wilson. He is facing the number four hitter in the Nationals lineup, Adam Dunn. Pitch sequence: Fastball up, 96. Fastball in, one and one. Fastball fouled straight back, 96, one and two. Two-two on the outside, fastball. Three-two outside fastball. Below the knees, below our strike track. And Tim Timmons right now in line to get the save on Randy Johnson's number 300th victory.
Bob:
Yeah, they'll give it to Brian Wilson.
Rob:
They have not called that strike all year. Joe…
Bob:
Well, I think…
Rob:
Joe Kerrigan, the pitching coach in Pittsburgh talked about it, they don't give the knee strike anymore. You can't just call strikes cause a guy's going for his 300th victory. That…that…that's a…that's a walk, ties the ballgame, gives the Nationals an opportunity to win. Just not a good call.
Bob:
That's a ten-year veteran sittin' back there. And the Nationals have found out in the last two weeks, you just cannot fight City Hall.
Rob:
Nope.
Bob:
And now it's happening at home. Aaron Rowand, base hit. The Giants' first hit since the second inning. That's how good Zimmermann and the bullpen has been. Today's copyrighted telecast presented by authority of the Washington Nationals may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form. And the accounts and descriptions of this game may not be disseminated without the express written consent of the Washington Nationals.
Bob:
Edgar Renteria the hitter, 0 for three.
Bob:
I think everybody in this ballpark except for 25 guys in gray uniforms, and coaches, and clubhouse guys thinking, 'That was ball four.' Maybe a couple of Giants broadcasters. Boy, that would have been a horrible way for Randy Johnson to lose 300, but…
Rob:
But a game's a game.
Bob:
…yeah, but if it's a ball, it's a ball.
Rob:
Right. I mean, it's…I mean, do you…do you want that? Do you want to have your 300th win, if it is given to you by the home plate umpire? I mean, there…there's the guy that leads the National League in walks. He's got one of the best batter's eye in the game. It's below his knees, he's 6'6". But, I mean, that's…that's the game. You gotta play it like that. You gotta try to get three outs here and battle back.
Bob:
Now Joel Hanrahan's given up two straight hits. And the Giants could be in a position to put this game out of reach. And Joel continues to be very hittable. He pitched the ninth inning here on Tuesday night, and gave up a run on three hits. So unless he's got something spectacular in mind here, the Giants are going to score at least one more run.
Bob:
In the dirt.
Bob:
I guess we'll never know what would…might have happened the rest of that inning, too. And a one-oh to Winn, who's 0 for three. Hanrahan actually pulled the string on it, there, 86 on a changeup.
Rob:
Well, it's up to Joel right here, though, to save this inning. You gotta look at it like he just came in, no outs, second and third, one-run ballgame. You wanna give your team an opportunity to have a good finish here in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Rob:
That's a tough night for Bengie Molina. Don't see that too often, 0 for three, couple of punch-outs.
Bob:
Yeah.
Rob:
He's been batting quite well.
Bob:
He's 0 for eight in the series. 0 for eight, four strikeouts in the first two games of this set. One and two. Winn reaches out, fair ball, two runs will score. And the Giants lead four to one. That's going to come very close to cementing Randy Johnson's 300th win. And the manager can name you the closer, and say you're the ninth inning guy, but Joel Hanrahan at times has done nothing to prove that he is that guy.
Rob:
Well, he throws a fastball running away, Randy Winn is off-balance, and still has his hands back in order to slap it to left field for two RBI on that…double. Rowand going back. That's good baseball right there. That's a line drive that's caught by Zimmerman, he still gets back to third.
Bob:
Runner at second, nobody out, three straight hits. Bengie Molina the hitter.
Rob:
Coming around first right here, he stumbles. Still looks like he caught the corner of the bag.
Bob:
Yeah, it looked like the step before he got to the bag, he brought up some mud, and the Nats thought he might have slipped by. And there's another hit. Bengie Molina out to center field. Winn around third, they'll hold him. And they're just hitting the line drives against Joel Hanrahan here.
Rob:
Well, here's another very hittable fastball on the inner half right there. Bengie Molina saves his own night from going ofer. That's gonna be it for Joel Hanrahan. Cannot record an out.
Bob:
So this one has fallen apart for the Nats, ever since a fastball was called strike three.
BEIMEL REPLACED HANRAHAN (PITCHING);
SANDOVAL BATTED FOR LEWIS;
Sandoval lined out on a sacrifice fly to center [Winn scored];
TORRES BATTED FOR ISHIKAWA;
Torres flied to center;
Uribe grounded out (pitcher to first);
3 R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 5, Nationals 1.
Bob:
…Joel Hanrahan for four base hits in a row. Joe Beimel in to try to quell this rally. Johnny and Ray between games, history in the making. Randy went for 300. He pitched very well. Didn't last that deep into the game, but six high-quality innings. Ray will break down Jordan Zimmermann's outing, and it's Matt Cain, Ross Detwiler in the nightcap.
Rob:
Cain versus Abel. Very able-bodied Mr. Detwiler.
Bob:
Let's hope nobody gets hurt.
Rob:
Hope that window stays open for about four more hours.
Bob:
There's Fred Lewis, one for three. Giants lead four to one.
Bob:
Infield in, knowing that anything will be tough to get against Brian Wilson in the bottom of the ninth.
Bob:
That little popup will be out of play.
Rob:
Well and now if you're Randy Johnson, it kinda makes it a little bit easier to swallow that third strike call on Dunn, because you say, 'Well, then they scored a couple more and they blew it open.'
Bob:
Yeah. That may be…
Rob:
It softens the blow a little bit.
Bob:
Maybe softens the blow for the Nats as well, when you think about it.
Rob:
Eh, I don't think anything softens the blow on a loss. We need to win some ballgames.
Rob:
Well, really other than the ninth inning, when…with Joel Hanrahan, this was a very well-pitched ballgame, by Zimmermann, then Villone…
Bob:
Everybody, yeah.
Rob:
Everybody comin' in, and, uh…it's like seeing more well-pitched ballgames, guys battling out there. Tough second inning, two runs for Zimmermann, then he shut them down.
Rob:
You look at the…one point had 50 strikes out of 70 pitches. That's what we're talking about with, uh, Jordan Zimmermann. Kid's got amazing ability. Steve McCatty, the new pitching coach.
Bob:
74 on that changeup, floating away, two balls, two strikes.
Bob:
That is Andres Torres on deck to hit for Travis Ishikawa.
Bob:
And a line drive to center. Here comes Dukes, he has it. Runner tagging, and the ball skips too many times to have a chance. With a runner like Randy Winn, if you don't one-hop it home, you've got no shot, and it's five to one, Giants.
Rob:
No telling how wet this ball is when Elijah Dukes picks it up. Well, actually he caught it in the air. Then he throws it, two hops, and it kicks off the pitcher's mound. Looks like a strong throw to there, and it just short-hops the mound.
Bob:
Well, that's what happens when you're going bad. One ball that hits the mound takes away a base hit from ya…
Rob:
And another ball that hits the mound and the run scores.
Bob: And another one hits the mound and gives the other team the run. When you're not, you're not. Here's Andres Torres. He slaps one to center. Dukes is under it, two outs. Follow the Nats on your iPhone and iPod Touch. It's MLB.com At Bat 2009 featuring video highlights, live audio, Nationals.com on your iPhone or iPod Touch to purchase.
Rob:
Got my iPhone right here, as a matter of fact. Check out the score.
Bob:
Juan Uribe will be next, 0 for three with an RBI ground ball.
Rob:
It's got some other scores. Pirates-Mets, 11 to six. Angels-Blue Jays, six-five.
Bob:
Yeah, a lot of day games today.
Rob:
Red Sox-Tigers, six-three. You see Beckett's outing last night? Just dealing.
Bob:
Yeah, Red Sox swept the Tigers.
Rob:
Ton of strikeouts. Twins 11 to three over Indians. Oakland seven, White Sox zero. Yeah, I love this feature on the iPhone, though. And a lot of the apps on the iPhone is fantastic tool. One of the things that saved me many a times, the GPS on the iPhone.
Bob:
Heh. And a little chopper, Beimel is there. A good play by Nick to save an error. Giants get three. Bottom of the ninth coming up, it's five to one.
Bottom 9
SANDOVAL STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 1B);
TORRES STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF);
Dukes struck out;
Kearns struck out;
Belliard singled to second;
Nieves struck out;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 5, Nationals 1.
Johnny: …trailing San Francisco five to one, and Randy Johnson on the verge of getting his 300th career victory, only the 24th pitcher to get to that select circle. And we have seen a heck of a ballgame tonight. The Nats have one more shot though, Ray, coming up here in the bottom of the ninth.
Ray:
Yo dude made a little bit more difficult as Hanrahan only faced four hitters, gave up four hits, Johnny, and they put a three-spot there. But a very well-played ballgame, crisply-played ballgame. And, uh, both pitchers, both starting pitchers threw very well. Zimmermann also had a great game, striking out seven, only walking…no…no walking no one.
Johnny:
And we'll talk about…uh…not only Zimmermann's performance, but the Big Unit as well when we come back in our Nats Xtra Post-Game when this ballgame is over. Back upstairs to Bob and to Rob.
Bob:
All right, gentlemen, thank you. Here we go, bottom of the ninth. Andres Torres stays in to play left field. Pablo Sandoval will be at first base. And Brian Wilson remains the pitcher, trying to nail down his save. I think Randy Johnson's feeling pretty good about his first attempt at 300. There's no doubt he pitched well enough to win.
Rob:
Absolutely. Well, I'll be interested to see why he came out after 72 pitches.
Bob:
But if that ball had not been called strike three, the Giants would win the game, but he would not have had the win. The Nats would have gotten Jordan Zimmermann off the hook, and Johnson a victory removed by a ball four call. What are you gonna do?
Rob:
Yeah, you gotta move forward.
Bob:
Elijah Dukes one for three tonight.
Rob:
You can't argue balls and strikes, you can't even replay 'em. But that man deserves number 300 regardless of that call. Just think of all the games that, like you said, he threw like a two-hitter and the guy threw a no-hitter against him.
Bob:
Yep.
Rob:
I'm sure over 500-plus starts for him, close to 600 starts, he's had a few that should've gone his way. Here's his night: six innings, two hits, one run, no earned runs, two walks, couple of punchouts.
Bob:
Randy's been in the clubhouse the last few innings, but he's back out to come on the field and shake some hands, unless Brian Wilson has an ungodly ninth inning.
Rob:
Well, I mean…
Bob:
Leading by four.
Rob:
Randy's a low-key guy, he's kind of a quiet, keep-to-myself type of guy, and he's just a wonderful guy off the field. On the field, I've never seen a fiercer competitor.
Rob:
But off the field, just a quiet family man. I don't think you'll probably hear too much from Randy if….when he…if and when he retires, 'til he makes his Hall of Fame speech.
Bob:
Yeah. And a three-two, Dukes hangs tough.
Bob:
There's one out here in the ninth. Our Ford Drive of the Game for the Nationals, the best swing of the night by a Washington hitter. And Nick Johnson beautifully, Rob, taking a ball to left-center.
Rob:
Yep, sixth inning, looked pretty good right there. Gonzalez comes around to score on the double by Nick Johnson. Randy Johnson would get Zimmerman and then Dunn, turn it over to his bullpen.
Rob:
Nick just hits lefties, righties, doesn't matter who's throwing. I mean y…you're talking a future Hall of Famer, he's throwing fastballs and sliders and…you know, Nick just stands up there and he's Nick.
Rob:
Hey Nick!
Bob:
On base three times.
Rob:
And he's made some gems on the field today too. Kept this ball from…
Bob:
Throughout this ballgame ends right around 7:30, which is only a few minutes away. Oh pardon me, I made the mistake of looking at the stadium clock.
Rob:
Yeah, my watch, it has about, uh, almost 20-til.
Bob:
I forgot the stadium clock is always ten minutes late. So if we're done here in the next couple of minutes…
Rob:
Heh heh heh
Bob:
It's 7:27…
Rob:
Okay
Bob:
…over on Potomac Avenue.
Rob:
I won't argue with that clock.
Bob:
Ha ha ha. One and two. And Kearns takes one that just misses.
Rob:
This is the one-two pitch right there. That looks like Bengie Molina kinda pulled that pitch down a little bit.
Rob:
Just cheese at the knees, man, then you're just trying to stay alive, put any kind of wood on it at all. 97, Austin stays alive, gets another good chance.
Bob:
That's upstairs, three and two.
Rob:
That is like Wilson's look. He looks like a closer. Got the mohawk, got some tattoos on him. It's like he's ready to rumble.
Bob:
Three strikeouts in a row.
Rob:
Last pitch here from Brian Wilson, 96 on the gun, but he just rears back and lets it go.
Rob:
I did not know that it is Randy Johnson's son playing batboy tonight.
Bob:
Why not?
Rob:
If you only knew, your dad's been amazing, kid.
Bob:
Yeah, no info about Randy's family in the media guide, so we don't know what his name is. Ronnie Belliard, 0 for three.
Rob:
Yeah, he's a Baby Unit.
Bob:
Heh heh heh heh heh.
Rob:
Hnn hnn hnn hnn hnn hnn.
Bob:
And now it's one strike away from some Randy Johnson 300 history here in Washington. They're chanting "Randy," and he's in the dugout.
Bob:
Just a little bit outside.
Bob:
The man who doesn't smile on the field or in the dugout a whole lot.
Rob:
There's Randy's wife Lisa.
Bob:
And she thought that was strike three. Ronnie Belliard up the middle, off the glove of Burriss, and…safe is Belliard at first base.
Bob:
See how they score it.
Rob:
I think that's a hit.
Rob:
Randy Johnson has a collection of stuff including autographs from Lefty Grove, Cy Young, Babe Ruth, and every Cy Young award winner from over the last ten years. Did not know that.
Bob:
Hmm.
Rob:
So he's a history buff. Yep, he's making history tonight if he gets 300.
Bob:
Family has had to brave some tough weather these two evenings for this moment to arrive. Wil Nieves one for three tonight. And now the Giants are a strike away again.
Bob:
Randy Johnson pitches six great innings and wins number 300.
Rob:
Joins Steve Carlton, Tim Keefe, Christy Mathewson, Gaylord Perry, Warren Spahn, and Mickey Welch. They all won their 300th game wearing a Giants uniform.
--------------------------------------------
Well there you have it. The transcript for the MASN broadcast. The Nationals broadcast team have been frequently named among the worst in baseball, with a lot of criticism heaped upon Bob Carpenter for being an unabashed homer for the team. Rob Dibble was even less popular before he was let go over a year after this game. I don't mind them that much, although I thought Carpenter was better when he worked with Steve Busby on the Rangers broadcast side. They still don't hold a candle to the Giants team. And it's terrible annoying that MLB cut out a lot of footage such as some before or after innings break and all of the pre-game and post-game. So...I've decided to renege on posting just the MASN broadcast and bring you the entire Comcast SportsNet Bay Area broadcast with Kruk and Kuip and Bip and Scott!
Intro
Kuip:
Today one of baseball's most prolific pitchers could reach another milestone. Only five lefties in the history of baseball have won 300 games, a number so significant it is a ticket to Cooperstown and baseball's Hall of Fame. The 300 Club is so exclusive only 23 members belong. Randy Johnson's career began 22 seasons ago, and through it all, one milestone remains: 300. So stay tuned, history could be made…next.
Pre-Game
Kuip:
It's a rainy afternoon here in Washington D.C., but it looks like we're gonna have baseball as we come to you from Nationals Park. Game two of this three-game series: Nationals and Giants. Randy Johnson going for win number 300. Hi again, everybody, I'm Duane Kuiper. Alongside me is Mike Krukow. Well, we don't know how long this game is gonna go. We're assuming it's gonna start when they tell us is in about ten minutes. Uh, so you know, everything is kinda like...mysterious. But we do know this: once it gets started, we're gonna see the Big Unit, and he's gonna try to get 300.
Kruk:
Well, think back 21 years ago. He made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos. How is that significant? Well, the Montreal Expos are now the Washington Nationals. He's gonna try and win number 300 against the organization that he came into the big leagues with. It has not been an easy ride for him the last couple of days simply because of the rain and the anxiety and the anticipation. Well, hopefully, today we are finally gonna cross that barrier and he is gonna get the ball, and he'll have a chance to indeed put himself in that select group of six lefthanders who have won 300 or more games in this great game.
Kuip:
All right, Randy Johnson going for the big number: 300. All right, we're at Nationals Park, and we'll have more baseball right after this.
Kuip:
Back here at the ballpark, both teams starting to get loose, and we are getting ready for baseball here in Washington D.C. Well it's time to bring you up to speed with AT&T Rapid Rewind. And we're gonna go back to Randy Johnson's last start against the Nationals on May 11, 2009. And, uh, Randy Johnson, his third win of the season. He went five innings, eight hits, four earned runs, no walks, and nine very impressive strikeouts, as you can see the nine strikeouts right there. Just mowin' 'em down. And, uh, Randy Johnson with the win on May 11, 2009. As you see Johnson getting loose down in the bullpen, and that was his line: eight hits, four earned runs, no walks, nine strikeouts. He left with…after throwing 84 pitches. Today is going for number 300 in his career. AT&T, the nation's fastest 3G network. AT&T, your world delivered. We'll be back.
Top 1
Rowand was called out on strikes;
Renteria was called out on strikes;
Winn grounded out (first to pitcher);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Nationals 0.
Kuip:
Randy Johnson getting loose down in the Giants bullpen, which is located in left-center field here at Nationals Park. Whereas we're waiting…the umpires are out, so we're just waiting now for the Nationals to take the field. And I think they're just waiting for the grounds crew to take a hike. Our game-time weather is brought to you by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the admission-free boardwalk is open daily. The temperature is 61 degrees, winds: very light, humidity: very high, and the forecast: I don't wanna talk about it.
Kruk:
Heh. That's true! I don't want to talk about it!
Kuip:
Heh heh heh.
Kruk:
There's rain everywhere!
Kuip:
We're very sensitive about this.
Kruk:
However, we do have a window, and we're gonna play ball right now.
Kuip:
Well, there…there's nothing more miserable than asking a starting pitcher to go through what both of these pitchers have gone through since they got to the ballpark yesterday. I mean, you start to mentally prepare yourself…to the first pitch they're gonna throw and that's gonna be a little after seven. And then you don't throw it at all, and then you sleep on it again. And, uh, you've always said it is a game of routine, and this is not been routine by any stretch of the imagination.
Kruk:
Heh heh. But, if there's an advantage in this game I have to believe that it's for the Giants here, with Randy Johnson, who in his 21st year at the big league level, has done this many time before. His opponent tonight, Jordan Zimmermann, is a 23-year-old rook, and he has not done this a whole lot. So familiarity is always an advantage, and, uh, I would have to say that Randy Johnson has the slight edge in trying to deal with this rain delay.
Kuip:
Somehow fireworks in the rain doesn't do a whole lot for me, but…the fact that the Nationals have taken the field, that does a lot for me. And let's take a look at the Giants lineup, and it's brought to you by Southwest Airlines. It will be Rowand, who currently with a 12-game hitting streak, and during that streak he's hitting over .400. Renteria second, then Winn. B…Bengie Molina, who is in a slump, is the cleanup hitter. Then Lewis, Ishikawa in the lineup, Uribe seventh, Burriss eighth, and the Big Unit ninth.
Kruk:
What do you say we check out the defense for the Washington Nationals. It will set it up this way, with Dunn, Dukes, and Kearns, that's your outfield. Zimmerman and Gonzalez on the left side of the infield. Belliard and Johnson on the right side. And Nieves will do the catching. And the gentleman he'll be putting the fingers down for is Jordan Zimmermann, making his ninth start. Two and two with a 6.07 ERA. Giants saw him earlier in May in that inning…in that outing he went six innings, gave up five runs, struck out eight. And they were impressed with his stuff. He had a mid-to-high 90s fastball, four pitches: curveball, slider, and a change-up. And a very, very good curveball. And you see, he can throw strikes. 47 strikeouts in 46 innings, and a…a…about a three to one strikeout-walk ratio, which is excellent. Zimermmann, 23 years old, 6'2", 220-pounder. As you see the Big Unit, Randy Johnson, coming across the field after having taken his warm-up throws. He finally is ready to go and pitch in a big league baseball game.
Kuip:
Well, when the Giants played on Tuesday night, Aaron Rowand led the game off with a big fly. And for Rowand, that was his sixth home run of the year, and his second leadoff home run this season. He'd only been leading off for 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. 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.
Kruk:
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 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. 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. 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.
Bottom 1
Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first);
N. Johnson lined to center;
Zimmerman grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 0, Nationals 0.
Kuip:
No score as we head to the home half of the first inning here in Washington D.C. 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 will 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 may have 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. 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, uh, 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.
Top 2
Molina struck out;
Lewis singled to left;
Ishikawa doubled to right [Lewis to third];
Uribe grounded out (second to first) [Lewis scored];
Burriss singled to center [Ishikawa scored];
R. Johnson struck out;
2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Kuip:
Here it's nothing-nothing as we head to the top of the second inning. 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:
Well 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 and 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:
We'll 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 he 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. 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, he 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.
Bottom 2
Dunn struck out;
Dukes grounded out (third to first);
Kearns struck out;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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, he's 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. And the three two slider was…great tilt. You look at and…and talk about the keys for Randy Johnson, it's the slant on this 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 eight 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.
Top 3
Rowand grounded out (third to first);
Renteria was called out on strikes;
Winn grounded out (first unassisted);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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/specialevents.
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…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 wringing 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.
Bottom 3
Belliard grounded out (shortstop to first);
Nieves grounded out (shortstop to first);
Zimmermann grounded out (pitcher to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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 some nice plays.
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. It remains two-nothing Giants.
Top 4
Molina was called out on strikes;
Lewis grounded out (shortstop to first);
Ishikawa flied to left;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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. He's another one of those guys that I miss.
Kruk:
He was a good Giant, Robby Thompson. Look forward to seeing him.
Kruk:
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 4
Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first);
N. Johnson walked;
Zimmerman flied to right;
Dunn popped to first;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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, who was…
Kuip:
I did not know that.
Kruk
…5'8". Hy…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 heigth.
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 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.
Kuip:
Right.
Kruk:
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 left-hander 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:
Very close, and Johnson wanted it.
Kruk:
You know, that's a tough pitch for a guy with a low three-quarter release to be able…a left-hander, 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:
The fastball really set that breaking ball up nice, I think he's real upset he didn't 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. Maybe 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:
Now you could hear Zimmerman leave the batter's box screaming as he ran down the first base line. And he just looked back at bae…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 now near the mound, and that ends the inning. Nationals have a baserunner. He's stranded. Fifth inning comin' up.
Top 5
Uribe flied to center;
Burriss grounded out (pitcher to first);
R. Johnson was called out on strikes;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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, he 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, that'll 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, honorary batboy. Randy brought his whole family here into Washington. He lives just, uh, outside of Phoenix, 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 5
Dukes singled to center;
Molina allowed a passed ball [Dukes to second];
Kearns walked;
Belliard grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [Dukes to third, Kearns out at second];
Nieves grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
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:
Ha ha ha. I agree!
Kruk:
You put it outside the glove, you get another piece of leather between you and the ball, because off your forefinger, that…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…
Kuip:
Right.
Kruk:
…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:
He 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 talk about a shot in the arm, this type of play will give it to you. Oh yeah.
Kuip:
That's like saying 'I wanna give you a hug' right there.
Kruk:
Ah ha ha. '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'.'
Kuip:
Yep.
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 6
Rowand grounded out (third to first);
Renteria grounded out (third to first);
Winn popped to third;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 0.
Kruk:
Well, June 16th is Irish Night. That's right, Irish Heritage Night. Giants taking on the Angels, and 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/specialevents.
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:
So you waited, I didn't.
Kruk:
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 us, 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. 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.
Bottom 6
HERNANDEZ BATTED FOR ZIMMERMANN;
Hernandez grounded out (pitcher to first);
Gonzalez reached on an error by Renteria;
N. Johnson doubled to left [Gonzalez scored];
Zimmerman grounded out (shortstop to first) [N. Johnson to third];
Dunn popped to third;
1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
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.
Kuip:
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.
Well we've seen Randy Johnson do this, where he'll f…swat a ball down and recover. And as he gets it, and 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…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…he looked to me 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. 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.
Kuip:
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.
Kuip:
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, it 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.
Kuip:
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.
Top 7
VILLONE REPLACED HERNANDEZ (PITCHING);
Molina popped to first;
Lewis grounded out (first unassisted);
Ishikawa was called out on strikes;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
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. 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.
Kuip:
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…pretty much throw some darts. And he is 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.
Bottom 7
MEDDERS REPLACED R. JOHNSON (PITCHING);
Dukes struck out;
Kearns struck out;
Belliard popped to second;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
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:
And 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 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 gur…curveball too. Throwing 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:
It's starting to rain a little bit again.
Kuip:
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. And 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.
Top 8
MACDOUGAL REPLACED VILLONE (PITCHING);
Uribe popped to first;
Burriss grounded out (second to first);
Medders was called out on strikes;
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
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. 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 it…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 remember if he had a…a change-up or a split, we'll find out. But it's…I think it's impossible for him to throw the ball straight.
Kuip:
Just outside to Uribe. Burriss to follow, and then Brandon Medder. 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.
Kuip:
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.
Kuip:
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?' Heh, 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.
Bottom 8
Nieves singled to center;
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'a s gonna 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…that 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. I know 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. Has 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.
GUZMAN BATTED FOR MACDOUGAL;
AFFELDT REPLACED MEDDERS (PITCHING);
Guzman flied to center;
Gonzalez grounded out (shortstop to first) [Nieves to second];
N. Johnson walked;
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. And 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. 0 for three. Each team with three hits.
Kuip:
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.
Kuip:
Nice play by Bengie Molina, one ball and no strikes.
Kruk:
They tried to crowd him all day long with Randy Johnson on that inside corner.
Kuip:
Two and oh.
Kruk:
Trying to go back in there the same way with Affeldt.
Kuip:
Affeldt realizes that he doesn't have to come in. He does have a base to work with. Zimmerman is on deck.
Kuip:
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:
It's one of the things we really haven't 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, and 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.
WILSON REPLACED AFFELDT (PITCHING);
Zimmerman walked [Nieves to third, N. Johnson to second];
Dunn was called out on strikes;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Giants 2, Nationals 1.
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 a 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.
Kuip:
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 right up 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.
Kruk:
You would stay on that side of the plate to try to go right 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!
Top 9
HANRAHAN REPLACED GUZMAN (PITCHING);
Rowand singled to center;
Renteria doubled to left [Rowand to third];
Winn doubled to left [Rowand scored, Renteria scored];
Molina singled to center [Winn to third];
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. And 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.
Kuip:
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.
BEIMEL REPLACED HANRAHAN (PITCHING);
SANDOVAL BATTED FOR LEWIS;
Sandoval lined out on a sacrifice fly to center [Winn scored];
TORRES BATTED FOR ISHIKAWA;
Torres flied to center;
Uribe grounded out (pitcher to first);
3 R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 5, Nationals 1.
Kuip:
It's four to one Giants here in the ninth inning. Joe Beimel is the new pitcher. 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. 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.
Kuip:
Sandoval hitting .301 with three home runs and 20 driven in. 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.
Bottom 9
SANDOVAL STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 1B);
TORRES STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF);
Dukes struck out;
Kearns struck out;
Belliard singled to second;
Nieves struck out;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Giants 5, Nationals 1.
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 out 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. And 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 D.C. 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.
Kruk:
Yeah.
Kuip:
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:
And 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 is in 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.
Post-Game
Kuip:
(replay) GOT HIM! Adam Dunn can't believe it!
Scott:
Well that was the pitch that they'll be talking about when this one is over. This is the pitch that officially put this game in the books for Randy Johnson. 5-1, Giants over the Nationals and the Unit is baseball's newest member of the 300-victory club. And with that welcome in to Giants Post-Game Live. Scott Reiss side by side with Bip Roberts. Bip, we saw history, and I tell you what, talk all you want about the controversial call in the eighth inning, but Randy Johnson earned it with what he did in six innings tonight.
Bip:
Yeah, he really did. He went out there and he was the Randy Johnson of old. He went out there and he…he retired the first nine out of ten hitters he faced and his teammates were behind him the whole game. You know, we talked about it in the pre-game. If your teammates come out and play well for you as a pitcher, the chances of you going out there and winning are great. But if you're a great pitcher the chances of you going out there are almost 100% that you can win. So today Randy Johnson's showed that with great pitching and a great team behind him, this is how you get to 300.
Scott:
And Randy had to deal with some adversity that not a lot of guys on this list of 24 300-game winners have had to deal with. Namely a rain delay for four hours yesterday in a game that's ultimately postponed, and then coming out today amidst all the uncertainty, Bip, and…and he didn't really know if he was gonna get to go out there and do it today either.
Bip:
And you know, 20 years from now, when he tells the story, that will make it that much sweeter. 'I had to wait 24 hours through the rain delays. It was stormin' when I went out on the mound. It was lightning and thunder crackling around me, but I was able to go out there and get my 300th because I had a great team behind me that day, and they played great defense and got timely hitting.'
Scott:
At the rate he's going, 20 years from now he might be going after career win number 500.
Bip:
Heh heh heh heh heh.
Scott:
Who knows? He's gonna go after Cy Young, but, uh, hey. 45 years old, he is the second oldest pitcher to achieve that 300th career victory. He is the sixth left-hander to do it. I mean, we can throw stats at you all day. Here's an interesting one: the first member of the 300-win club, Bip, to have claimed victories against all 30 major league teams in existence today.
Bip:
Well, when you talk about greatness, only a guy like Randy Johnson could achieve something like that. And when you think about it, 6'10", he's able to throw the ball in the mid-90s, a great crispy slider. Just tremendous control. And, you know, he goes out there focused each and every time with determination to win.
Scott:
He was focused early and often. And we get you back out now live to Washington D.C., and Mike Krukow standing by with the man of the hour. Kruk?
Kruk:
Welcome back to, uh, Washington, National Park here. And a historical day as Randy Johnson has joined just 24 men in baseball history to be a…a…a 300-game winner. And Randy, you worked h…incredibly hard your whole career. There were times you didn’t know if your body was gonna allow you to do this. You persevered, and now that you have made this, uh, tremendous accomplishment, how do you feel?
Randy:
Oh, exhausted, but, uh…(sound missing)…our work's done yet. I didn't come here just to win five games. I came to help this team, uh, turn things around, and, uh, hopefully get us to the playoffs. And so there's still a lot of hard work ahead, but, uh, it's nice to get the win. It's nice to have this moment with my family and friends that came. Uh…my teammates, and uh…I think about all the teammates that I've had along the way, uh, starting back in Montreal, to…to Seattle, uh, nine or ten years that I played there then to Houston for the two months and Arizona for the great run that, uh, I had with my teammates there and…and then for New York for a couple of years and then back to Arizona and then finally back here for…for what I hope is, uh, you know, a real good year for…for the team and myself as well. So, uh, it's been a long road and I guess the one word that would sum it all up was just that I've…I persevered. Uh…you know, I battled, uh, with mechanics early in my career. I battled with injuries towards the end of my career. But, uh, you know, a game like today means a lot, not necessarily because of what happened but because of the way I pitched. I mean, these kind of games mean more to me than going out and striking out 15, because, uh, it's a good lineup there and I actually pitched great defensive plays behind me, but, uh, you know it's actually a lot of fun going out there and getting ground balls and getting double plays and…because you have to pitch now, you know, and that's what I've realized, uh, several years ago that I actually had to…can't overmatch any hitters anymore but I have to pitch and persevere and…and, uh, that's one reason why my…uh…location is that much more critical at this point in my career.
Kruk:
Well tremendous defense you made mention. It was Aaron Rowand who got things started with a great play early in the ballgame. And, uh, and then it was, uh, Emmanuel Burriss who had the play of the game. And watch this right here.
Randy:
Oh, Aaron made a great play off of Nick Johnson, uh, and then uh…uh, Belliard came up and…I think it was Belliard that came up and hit the ground ball to…uh…to Emmanuel who made a great play playing, uh, double play depth. And, uh, you know, uh, that could have turned the game around for them easily, uh, with a couple of guys on base and here we got two outs. So, uh, that's just, uh, you know I've been fortunate to be around long enough to do a few nice things from a personal standpoint and from a team standpoint. But, uh, I think the one thing that's…that's kind of all kinda comin' together right now, and, you know, a…a lot of times things didn't really sink in until maybe a day, a week, you know, a month later to actual, uh, what we had done, whether it was win a World Series or the perfect game, it's things like that. But, uh, you know, uh, it's a special moment to share it with the…the National fans here that, uh, they came out and bared it through the rain yesterday and today and, uh, were cheering us on. And, uh, just to have my family and friends here too, you know. A lot of them were a…weren't a…weren't able to stick around for the extra day, but, uh, you know a lot of people that I know watched it back home. My mom and so, uh, I'm happy and thankful that I had that much support.
Kruk:
Well, talk about the last out. You were sittin' with your son Tanner there and watching the 27th out. What was going through your mind?
Randy:
Oh, Willie's, uh, got a…an overpowering fastball, and, uh, you know, when he's out there pitching, it's…uh…things can pretty much be under control with…with him out there, but, uh, you know…just I think it's the coolest moment to be able to share something like this with my son. You know, obviously I wish my dad was around. He wasn't able to see any of my…my games from the last 17 years. But, uh, you know, up…upstairs he's probably watching and that's why I think this moment's so special for me and my son.
Kruk:
Well, it's special for all, uh, baseball fans, not just Giants fans but for all the fans in general. They took a…a great rejoice in Seattle seeing you win, uh, and…and pitch well up there. And…and, uh, and coming here against the organization you started out in…against this uh, Nationals organization that used to be the Expos. And you won your 300th. And I can speak for all of us in the baseball world, tr…tremendous accomplishment. Congratulations. Just one of six left-handers to ever have done this. Congratulations, my friend.
Randy:
Oh, thanks very much. Thank you.
Kruk:
Randy Johnson, on a very, very historical day. We now give it back to the Studio. Guys, it's all yours. Thank you, Randy
Randy:
Thank you.
Scott:
All right, Kruk, and, uh, of course our congratulations as well to the Unit who as I mentioned becomes the second oldest pitcher to reach that magical 300-win plateau. Phil Niekro did it back in October of 1985 at age 46. Randy, of course, will be 46 at the conclusion of this season. But, uh, you know, Bip, I don't care how old you are, this is a…a special day to…to notch 300. I mean, th…there are…there are numbers, and then there are numbers. And baseball is all about stats and numbers, but…but 300 for a pitcher that's…that's up there.
Bip:
Oh, that is tremendous, that is special. And to Randy from the East Bay, Livermore, everyone is joyful and happy that he was able to accomplish this. But when we start talking about a guy like Randy and 300, you know, 300 is a magic number for hitters. You want to hit .300. When you start talking about 300 as the number for pitchers, that's the number that's pretty much…un-…well to the point where I don't think anybody can get there. You start thinking, like, 'Wow! How can you get 300 wins as a pitcher?' Well, you have to persevere just like he says. Stay healthy, have good stuff, be around good teammates. Play on teams that like to win. And above all, you know, just have the faith that your abilities will get you as far as you take them. And Randy Johnson is a prime example of that. 6'10", as you said he used to throw…uh…had no command or control of his fastball whatsoever. But he learned to refine that and became a 300-game winner. And, you know, a future Hall of Famer. And thank God right now he's a Giant.
Scott:
Randy now tied with Lefty Grove and Early Wynn for 22nd on the all-time wins list. Tom Glavine would be next, and Glavine, of course just released yesterday by the Braves, could possibly be at the end of his road, which means Randy could vault him within the next few weeks. But, you know, w…what struck me, Bip, about that sequence and watching Randy as the final out was recorded, there with his son, and he was still sort of stoic and didn't show a lot of emotion. There was a brief moment where he let his guard down and you saw the big sm…I've never seen him smile that big.
Bip:
Heh heh heh heh
Scott:
Where he realized, 'Wow,' after all he's been through not only in 20 years in this game but also over the last 24 hours with the rain and the delays, that this was a moment that can never be duplicated.
Bip:
Well, you're absolutely right. It's the culmination of his entire career in one game, where you see Randy Johnson the Dominator the first few innings, first five innings. Then you see Randy Johnson, the guy who's grown into such a team leader watching, and in the…in position to win 300, saying 'Well, let's get this over with. I'm starting to get nervous.' But, a…in all of that he started to smile because he started to get comfortable. He started to realize that his ultimate dream was about to come true. Yes, he's won World Series, but the 300 number, that is a tremendous number. And he was able to get that today.
Scott:
We talked on the pre-game show about the win as a baseball statistic and how a lot of things have to go your way. It's not just about going out and pitching well. You gotta have some help. And he got it from his defense, and he got it from his bullpen. And this was the at-bat here in the eighth inning. Up two to one, Johnson is long gone. After a couple of pitching changes, Brian Wilson the closer brought in, walks the bases loaded, and now Adam Dunn, coming up on a three-two pitch. And umpire Tim Timmons, Bip, making the call here that's gonna keep him in the headlines for the next couple of days.
Bip:
Yeah, this pitch, if you're a hitter, you want it to be called a ball. If you're Bochy, if you're Randy Johnson…
Scott:
Heh heh heh
Bip:
…if you're Wilson, that is a strike. I believe as a hitter, anything close with three-two, you have to swing the bat. That pitch, although it looks low, after it goes across the plate, it looked like a strike going across his knee. That's too close to take.
Scott:
To Bip Roberts, that's a strike.
Bip:
A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Scott:
To Adam Dunn, I'm not quite sure.
Bip:
Heh heh. Well, Tim Timmons calls it a strike…
Scott:
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Bip:
…and it is a strike. In that situation, it's too close to take. And any time it's three and two the umpire opens the plate a little bit, and he calls strikes.
Scott:
Uh, nonetheless gotta get your bat off your shoulder.
Bip:
That's right.
Scott:
If that pitch goes a different way, well, we're making plans for Arizona next week and Randy against his former team. Now he can go for career victory number 301. But again, you gotta have help. And he got some offense early on. Not a lot, but as it turns out, just enough…that his bats picked him up, and…and the way Jordan Zimmermann pitched, you know, they were lucky to get much at all.
Bip:
Well Zimmermann was great. He had good stuff. He is one of those kids that when he's hot, he has great stuff. And sometimes he just hur…he…he gets to the point where he throws pitches in the zone and he makes mistakes there. In that second inning, Lewis, Ishikawa…um…Burriss, they come up with big hits and they scored two runs. Bur…I mean, uh, Uribe hits the ball hard to get the guys over and score a run. But these guys in that second inning put together a great inning where they were able to put three hits together and score two runs.
Scott:
And how about props to Emmanuel Burriss, who made the defensive play of the day, maybe of the season? And we'll see that momentarily. And there you see the, uh, the RBI single that made it two-one and ultimately was the…the game-winning RBI if they still counted that stat in giving Randy Johnson the lead. Now let's talk now about that defense because the play that Burriss made, you know, given the gravity of this situation, this is one of the most impressive plays in baseball all season, not just the Giants.
Bip:
Well, it's wet, it's muddy out there, and he has to get a good jump on that ball because it's hit hard to his right. That's a tough play for a second baseman, but he takes one step and a dive. He flips it to Renteria who was waiting for that, they have worked together in defense, they…they know each other very well, gives him a great feed to come across the base. And Renteria, all he has to do is to get off a good throw and he does that very well. A nice strong throw to first to complete the double play.
Scott:
Well, and…and…you know…y…uh…one run's gonna score on that play, but the other baserunners probably gonna get to third base, so you're looking at first and third, Bip, with nobody out. So it's not just the question of the run coming in, it's…it's a…a big inning possibly and the entire complexion of this game changes if that ball gets through to the outfield.
Bip:
It really does. This game is a game based on inches and chances. And when you get the chances like he did, you have to make the plays.
Scott:
And speaking of making plays, how about the Unit? The cat-like quickness at six-foot-ten!
Bip:
Heh heh heh heh. Well I can tell he didn't play basketball.
Scott:
Ha ha ha ha.
Bip:
But I tell you, he's very…he's a very good athlete and in this situation right now, just a catch and a throw, and he's off-balance, and at 6'10", that's a very difficult play.
Scott:
Ha ha ha ha. At 6'10" and 45 years of age mind you…
Bip:
Ha ha ha ha.
Scott:
…to have the reflexes to field your position and...and this is just pure, unadulterated desire here sayin', 'I'm gonna grab this thing and whatever it takes! Whatever it takes.'
Bip:
Well, it's great fundamentals because when he went down to the ball, he put his hand on top of the ball.
Scott:
Yep.
Bip:
He didn't try to scoop it up or anything. He put his hand on top of it and made sure he caught it in order to throw it.
Scott:
You know, I neglected to look up the career numbers, uh, I'm sure you faced Johnson more than one occasion.
Bip:
Heh.
Scott:
What…what's it like to stand in against six-foot-ten? Especially back in the day when he was throwing 99 regularly?
Bip:
Yeah, yeah. I faced Randy Johnson back when he was with the Seattle Mariners, and he had a mid-90s fastball would tail and cut, he had a great slider that…it looked like an illusion ball. It was right there one second, next thing you know it was at the back of your ankles. But I tried to keep him in a zone, and just tried to make him throw in my zone, which was very small. But Randy Johnson, I think he struck me out twice that day, and it was a tough day. I got one hit and I was really happy I got the one hit.
Scott:
Yeah! That put you above a lot of others!
Bip:
Heh heh heh heh heh.
Scott:
So that's it? You only faced him one day?
Bip:
No, I faced him a few times. I got a few hits off of Randy.
Scott:
Did you?
Bip:
Um, being a small guy, he had to come down to my zone and I tried to take advantage of that. But Randy Johnson pretty much beat us every time we faced him.
Scott:
Ha ha ha ha. Well, you know, he beat a lot of teams…
Bip:
Heh heh heh.
Scott:
…en route to 300 career victories. But, uh, you know, what does it mean to this Giants franchise?
Bip:
Yeah.
Scott:
Five of the 300 wins as a Giant, clearly he's not gonna go in the Hall of Fame wearing a Giants cap, and when people think Randy Johnson 20 years from now, they're not gonna think, 'Randy Johnson, San Francisco Giant.' That said, what does it mean for the organization to have him wearing that uniform on this day?
Bip:
Well, the Giants have done a lot of things right in the past in their history, they have guys who are Hall of Famers, guys who been on All-Star teams, guys who have won just about any and every award that you can think of. And you know, you have Barry Bonds here who broke the home run records. So with Randy, once again, you get a guy in here who can set records at…as a lefty, 300 wins, one of the only six lefties of all times. But he brings histor…history to the Giants once again. When you look at Randy Johnson's name and you'll see on this date he was a Giant and he won his 300th victory. And that puts him into the Hall of Fame, or put the Giants into the record books.
Scott:
Of course, and Randy had mentioned how extra-special this is because his family was in attendance. His son Tanner there in the dugout. He was the batboy today, wearing the 51 on the back. His wife, Lisa, was there in the stands, uh, for as...as long as she can cont…tolerate the wet stuff, I imagine, and then she came back out for the ninth inning. Y'know, Bip, you know, as a…as a family guy, you got kids. Wh…what's it like to…to have that kind of support when you're, you know, uh, going for a…a…a momentous kinda day as a ballplayer?
Bip:
Well, that's a special moment that the family would never forget. I'm sure they'll have it on tape, and they'll relive that each and every time they feel like rejoicing. But as a father and son combo, son gets to watch dad work, someday he wants to be like dad. And when you're in that situation you have dad right there, you see how dad is working through that situation. You grow up and want to be just like him.
Scott:
Well Randy Johnson's line: six innings, just two hits, one run, and it was an unearned run, so he was almost perfect, really. Walked two, struck out two. And you heard him talk about how, you know, back in the day, he was striking out 12, 13 guys. Now he's gotta pitch. He's gotta get groundouts. He's got to get double plays. Talk about the stuff that we saw out of the Unit today that allowed him to be as effective as he was.
Bip:
Well, he had what we talk about the great arm slot today. He was able to get on top of the ball, stay inside when he had to. He'd go soft away. He was hard in, soft away. He had a slider working backdoor, had his slider working inside. So Randy today, because of his arm slot, was able to get back to Randy of old. No he didn't throw 98, 99, but he was very crafty out there. He was able to mix his pitches up and be that crafty lefty that he's developed into. Not throwing as hard, but able to move the ball around and to where it just misses the barrel of the bat. And you get an easy ground ball, or a simple popup.
Scott:
Back in the day when you were standing in against six-foot-ten, did you ever think the words "crafty lefty…"
Bip:
Heh heh
Scott:
…would be used to describe…(sound missing)
Bip:
Oh, I…when I looked out and saw Randy, I…I thought, 'Hopefully he won't hit me.'
Scott:
He thought, 'Who's that guy on your shoulders?'
Bip:
Heh heh heh. I mean, he was wild…
Scott:
Ha ha ha ha.
Bip:
…but he was effective with it…being wild.
Scott:
Yeah.
Bip:
And then all of a sudden, he defied…he…he developed this…the refined control and all of a sudden became this great pitcher. And you go, lWow, man! I'm glad he has control,' because I was a little afraid in that box.
Scott:
Let's go back to the emotion of this game. And…and you saw it in not just Randy but his teammates, you know, Brian Wilson has said all along, he wanted to get the baseball when this day finally did get here. And he got it. And it almost didn't go his way with that borderline pitch in the eighth, but then Wilson buckled down, struck out the side in the ninth inning. What's it like, emotionally speaking, to be on the field when something like this happens?
Bip:
Great feeling! You want to…you want the ball just like Brian wanted the ball, Affeldt wanted the ball. You know, Medders wanted the ball. They all wanted to go out there and be a part of this 300th victory for Randy Johnson. They didn't want to be the guy to blow it for Randy Johnson. They wanted to be the guy to help him win it. And as we said earlier, when you have great teammates, you have a great bullpen like the Giants have, those guys…they're looking forward to this type of moment, and when they get it, they won't let it go by without a fight, and that's what happened today. You know, Wilson didn't have his great stuff, but he went out there with everything he had as far as emotionally and mentally, and he got the job done.
Scott:
Mmm. And again, Randy in the, uh, post-game news conference, and again we'll hear more from Randy Johnson momentarily as we'll take you back live to Washington D.C. as he addresses the media now that he's had a little bit of time to let this all sink in. But, you know, you heard him in the heat of the moment and again, so quick to, you know, e…effusive in his praise of…of the guys around him and what Burriss did with that defensive play and what Rowand did with the great catch in the first inning, and, you know, Randy is very much aware of the team aspect of this game.
Bip:
He sure is, and he said that in his…his comments and the one thing I like he understands he didn't come here to win four, five games. He came here to help the Giants win. And he's a part of a team. And yes, today was a big day for him. It was a big day for the team. They were able to win and continue their winning ways. So as a team, as a unit, yes it's great to get 300, but on top of that, it's great to get the win.
Scott:
And what you just said is exactly what he told me when I sat down with him for that conversation back in February. He said, 'Look, I…I didn't come here to win five games. I came here to win, you know, 12 or 15 or 18' or whatever he can do. So far he has been perfectly healthy. And the way he's thrown the last three times out, I mean, one earned run, one earned runned, no earned runs. I don't care if you're 25 or 45, you can sustain that over three straight starts, you obviously have s…pretty good stuff left.
Bip:
He sure does. He doesn't throw as hard, but he's able to mix his pitches up. He's able to change speeds off of his breaking ball. He's able to change speeds off of his fastball. He's able to run it in, he's able to run it away soft. He's able to cut it in. He's able to backdoor it. So he's a very smart pitcher out there. No, he doesn't have the physical capabilities he had five, ten years ago, but he's still Randy Johnson, a guy who, when he's on the mound, he's capable of winning that ballgame because he has the experience. And he still has the physical abilities to go out and win, but he has the mental capabilities to go out and shut teams down.
Scott:
Well he was mentally and physically tough today. Only the two strikeouts, but only two hits over six innings. You will certainly take that. In fact, he was perfect through the first three. And you see the…the preamble, you see all the folks gathered and the lights and cameras. All we need now is the action, waiting for the tall left-hander to appear before us, and, uh, talk about the…this historic 300th career victory, as oh by the way, it was game one of a double-header. I don't think that a lot of people even remember…
Bip:
Heh heh heh.
Scott:
…that there's still another game to be played and you got Matt Cain taking the baseball. So I guess if you're the Giants, you know, with all this wet stuff, you got to feel pretty good about the possibility of…of getting the sweep today after what Randy did in game one, and then Cain comin' out in game two.
Bip:
You're absolutely right. First, okay, you can't win the second game or…or sweep if you don't win the first game. And with Randy Johnson doing what he did in the first game, six innings pitched, two hits, no earned runs, two K's and a win. And then to have, you know, Matt Cain comin' after Randy, that's gonna be a treat for all baseball fans who get a chance to watch.
Scott:
And here it is in Super Slo-Mo, and, you know, Matt, no matter how many times you see it, you have to be impressed…if…i…i…impressed at what Randy Johnson did today. All right, I am told that he's finally reached the podium, and there he is, six-foot-ten and 300 career victories to his credit. Let's listen in live, Randy Johnson at Nationals Park.
Randy:
Oooh. Huuuh. Oh, here's better. Hoooh. Nn…anybody?
Media:
Heh heh heh heh. Yay!!!
Randy:
Heh heh heh heh.
Media:
Randy, you tried not to make a big deal of it, but now…now that it's happened, obviously we can see the emotion, obviously it's a big feeling.
Randy:
Oh, absolutely. I think this is a…a…the…t…hard to describe it, but…it's…it's…like the perfect game that I threw, you know, it didn't really sink in 'cause it was a…kind of a one-game accomplishment and it happened in one day. And it…you know, it wasn't like I set out to do that. It happened, and so it kind of caught me off guard. This is a…kind of a long-term thing that's been going o…on for 21 years and you finally get to this day, and you know that if your team plays well, you pitch well, that something can happen that's only happened a few other ti…you know, 24 other times. So I think, you know, I'm actually more nervous now than I was pitching.
Media:
Ha ha ha ha.
Randy:
You know, I was…uh…just kind of at a loss for words. I mean…um…just happy that my family and friends were able to come. Um, you know, there's not as many of them as there…I would have liked. Um, but um, being on the east coast I'm happy that, um, for my teammates from the very beginning. Montreal, to…uh…to Seattle to Houston for the two months that I was there, to Arizona to New York to Arizona again to San Francisco. It's been a long road, and I couldn't have done it without all the teammates, uh, that I've had, and, uh, the support and the bullpen and the defense. I mean, the one thing that pitchers have control over essentially is, maybe their ERA and strikeouts and the hits that they give up. But they have no control over the wins that they get. And, uh, you know, to me, wins have always outweighed strikeouts because I didn't…you know, strikeouts were just something that kinda happened, but I think that I wanted to be more known for, you know, winning ballgames than striking people out. And so, uh, you know, pitchin' a game like today or pitching a game like I did against the Braves, or pitching a game like I did against Seattle, I get more gratification out of that because of the way I'm doing it now than the way I ma…may have done it ten years ago. I mean, I'm actually going out there and pitching. I mean, you saw the defense today. Uh, Emmanuel made a great double play. I was…you know, that…that was pivotal. I could have turned the whole game around if…if that's a base hit. And, uh, my senior moment where I thought I was 25, and…
Media:
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Randy:
…made that play. But, uh, yeah, you think about 'em, I'm almost coming up on 600 games that I've started, and, uh, there's been a lot of peaks and valleys, and, you know, to think that I've come along…this far with…
Scott:
Good lineup for you on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. We'll have game two of the double-header coming up, Post-Game Live, and then the Randy Johnson special after that. Kruk and Kuip next.
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