The Big Unit reached a big milestone — 300 wins.
Randy Johnson looked like the sure Hall of Famer he’ll one day become. Relying on a fastball 10 mph slower than his prime, the San Francisco Giants left-hander secured his historic moment with a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday.
Johnson opened with three perfect innings before dinged for a walk in the fourth, a hit in the fifth and an unearned run in the sixth. Fans clearly were behind Johnson, moaning twice over questionable ball calls that would have been strikeouts while cheering Johnson after chasing down a grounder while tripping.
Johnson became baseball’s 24th and perhaps last 300-game winner for many years. It was a gem — permitting only two hits while throwing 50 strikes in 78 pitches over six innings. Only two fly balls, a single and one sharply-hit double left the infield despite most pitches reaching only the mid-80s. Johnson struck out Austin Kearns with a 92 mph fastball, but it wasn’t the overpowering stuff of Johnson’s past.
“I only have 211 more to catch Cy Young,” joked Johnson of the career wins leader.
It was a rare national milestone locally involving the Nationals that have been so fleeting in five seasons. Big moments seem to happen elsewhere, like Barry Bonds hitting home run No. 756 in San Francisco against Washington.
The only noteworthy Nats’ landmark moment since arriving was Alfonso Soriano’s 40th stolen base on Sept. 16, 2006 at RFK Stadium to join the 40 homers/40 steals club. Otherwise, Washington’s classic memories have been fewer than sunny spring days lately. Maybe Adam Dunn can hit homer No. 300 at month’s end versus Boston before three sellout crowds, though Nats’ luck would see it coming in Baltimore afterward.
Rain dogged the historic chase, washing out Wednesday’s game and making Thursday feel like a Little League makeup, drawing only parents. Nats Town was a ghost town. Johnson was hoping for 300 and so were the Nats — that’s 300 fans at the opening pitch.
The crowd swelled to maybe 1,000 a few innings later, but the persistent rain of the last few weeks continued to dampen attendance even for a doubleheader offering a potential historic moment. Foul balls rolled uncontested for several rows — behind the dugout. Individual cheers rang unchallenged through the park.
Too bad more people didn’t see something for once worth watching that involved the Nats.
Rick Snider has been covering local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected]
