Veteran holds Arizona hitless through 6 innings
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Randy Johnson throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in San Francisco. Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. San Francisco won 2-0.
SAN FRANCISCO – Maybe the opponents’ uniform jogged some memories for Randy Johnson, who pitched most of his best games for Arizona over the years.
He suggested it’s just competitive nature.
Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against his former team, and the San Francisco Giants held on to beat the Diamondbacks 2-0 on Sunday.
“Sometimes you have to put blinders on when it comes to certain teams,” Johnson said. “I just wanted to pitch well. It’s nice to go out there and feel like I’m contributing after the last two starts.”
Johnson, who allowed one hit in seven innings, was perfect through four. He faced the minimum through six and stranded Augie Ojeda at third base after the shortstop doubled to open the seventh.
“The leadoff double changes the complexion of the game,” Johnson said. “They had the heart of their order coming up and you have to make your pitches. We got a run and I felt I could make it stand up.”
The 45-year-old Johnson (1-2) got his 296th win in his first start against the Diamondbacks, with whom he spent eight seasons. Bob Howry pitched the eighth and Brian Wilson got the last three outs for his second save.
“It was beautiful,” Wilson said. “It was a nice day and Randy was out there dominating. He proved he can still do it.
“You watch him working the hitters, working the count and you realize not all of us can go out there and do that.”
Travis Ishikawa’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fourth drove in Randy Winn with the game’s first run.
Arizona right-hander Max Scherzer (0-1), who was born the summer Johnson finished his sophomore season at the University of Southern California, allowed three hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out six.
“We haven’t swung the bat well to this point and that’s why we have the record that we have,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve had some real good pitching performances and when you don’t swing the bat, you put a lot of pressure on your pitching staff to have to be perfect.”
Johnson walked ex-Arizona Wildcat Tony Clark to open the fifth and Chris Young bounced into a fielder’s choice. Johnson picked off Young for the second out and got Justin Upton on a fly out to center fielder Aaron Rowand. Ryan Roberts drew a walk off Johnson to start the sixth. After striking out Chris Snyder, Johnson got pinch hitter Mark Reynolds to ground into an inning-ending double play.
“I had a better slider and better location,” Johnson said. “That makes all the difference. There were also some defensive plays that were good for us.”
Johnson worked his way out of the seventh by getting Felipe Lopez to bounce out to drawn-in shortstop Edgar Renteria, then struck out Clark.
“That was incredible,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “Here he is, 45 years old, and pitches a game like that. I thought he had a shot at it. He was really zoned in.”
Both teams struggled to score runs during the series, totaling six in the 53 innings as the pitchers combined for a 2.04 ERA. The Giants won 2-0 Friday and the D’backs won 2-0 Saturday.
“He pitched great – obviously he was fired up,” Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes said. “His velocity was up and he didn’t miss too many locations.”
Arizona Diamondbacks' Tony Clark (right) swings and misses at a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants starter Randy Johnson during the fifth inning the game on Sunday in San Francisco. The Giants won 2-0.
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Colorado (Marquis 2-0) at Arizona (Garland 1-1), 6:40 p.m. Monday. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1490 AM