SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Randy Johnson’s family and friends finally can make their plans to witness history. They’ll be in the stands next week in Washington when the 45-year-old left-hander attempts to become baseball’s 24th pitcher to win 300 games.
And given how smoothly the Big Unit reached the brink Wednesday night, they might not have to follow around Johnson for long.
Johnson pitched six impressive innings against the Atlanta Braves for his 299th career victory, yielding three hits and one run in San Francisco’s 6-3 win to complete the Giants’ first three-game series sweep of the season.
The 6-foot-10 left-hander’s next two starts will be on the other side of the country from his native Bay Area. Johnson (4-4) acknowledges a slight disappointment he won’t be going for the mark at the Giants’ waterfront ballpark, where he’s recorded each of his victories in his first season with the club – none sharper than his effort against Atlanta.
“Anxiety? A little nervous? Yeah, I suppose,” Johnson said. “I’d love to do it here in front of family and friends and the ownership. Of all the trips to do it on, it had to be on the East Coast one.”
these days.
The five-time Cy Young Award winner struck out five to run his career total to 4,843, second-most in baseball history. He didn’t walk a batter and allowed his only run on Casey Kotchman’s RBI single in the sixth, which he finished by striking out Chipper Jones for the third time.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like,” Johnson said. “I can’t anticipate things until they happen. I’m just grateful I’m in this position. It’s been a lot of hard work, with the back surgeries and the knee surgery. … I just like going out there and pitching and doing well.”
Johnson often is at his best against the Braves, who have scored just two runs against him in 28 innings dating back to 2004. Despite outstanding career numbers against the Unit, Jones was particularly flummoxed, striking out twice to end an inning – and a third time with a runner on third base.
“Randy can still win,” Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. “We didn’t rough him up at all.”
Cubs 5, Pirates 2
At Chicago, Carlos Zambrano was ejected, prompting a wild ball-tossing, bat-swinging tirade, before Reed Johnson hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning for the Cubs.
Johnson connected against Jesse Chavez (0-2) and the Cubs added two more runs on RBI doubles by Andres Blanco and Jake Fox.
Carlos Marmol (1-1) worked the eighth and Kevin Gregg got three outs for his seventh save.
os 1
At Cincinnati, Jay Bruce homered twice and Bronson Arroyo pitched a five-hitter to give the Reds their first sweep of the Astros in Cincinnati since May 2004.
Arroyo (7-3) had his seventh career complete game and first this season.
The last-place Astros have dropped seven straight.
Marlins 6, Phillies 2
At Philadelphia, Burke Badenhop pitched five sharp innings, and Dan Uggla and Cody Ross homered.
Badenhop (3-2) allowed one run and five hits. Matt Lindstrom retired Jimmy Rollins on a liner to center with the bases loaded to end it.
Brett Myers (4-3) gave up five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings for Philadelphia.
Carlos Ruiz and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs homered for the Phillies.
Mets 7, Nationals 4
At New York, Daniel Murphy’s tiebreaking homer led an uncharacteristically wild Johan Santana to the victory.
Murphy had a career-best five RBIs and Gary Sheffield hit an early two-run double off rookie Jordan Zimmermann (2-2), helping the injury-ravaged Mets finish a three-game sweep.
Santana (7-2) struck out 11 and walked six, one shy of his career high.
Adam Dunn homered for Washington.
Cardinals 3, Brewers 2
At Milwaukee, Nick Stavinoha had two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run and the Cardinals won their seventh in nine games.
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Ryan Franklin got the final four outs for his 12th save.
Manny Parra (3-6) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for Milwaukee.
Dodgers 8, Rockies 6
At Denver, Juan Pierre and Mark Loretta hit RBI singles during a seventh-inning rally and the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep.
Clayton Kershaw (3-3) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings for Los Angeles.
Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez (3-6) pitched 6 2-3 innings, yielding five runs, four earned, and nine hits.
Padres 8, Diamondbacks 5
At Phoenix, Adrian Gonzalez hit his major league-leading 18th home run and drove in three runs in San Diego’s 11th win in 12 games.
David Eckstein added three hits and an RBI as the Padres took two of three in the series.
San Diego opened a 5-0 lead behind Jake Peavy (5-5), then watched Arizona pull within 5-4 before putting the game away with three runs in the eighth.
Heath Bell got the final out for his major league-leading 14th save.
Peavy allowed four runs and a season-high eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.
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