Big Unit delivers in D-Backs win
by Don Ketchum - May. 6, 2008 11:59 PM
The Arizona Republic
Mr. Evil Eye became Mr. Eagle Eye on Tuesday night.
Randy Johnson, known for peering menacingly from behind his glove before going into his pitching wind-up, showed he also can judge pitches from the batter's box.
Johnson walked on four pitches with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, forcing in a run to tie the score and paving the way for a three-run home run by shortstop Stephen Drew as the Diamondbacks defeated Philadelphia 6-4 in front of 26,234 fans at Chase Field.
Johnson also pitched well enough to earn his second victory of the season and No. 286 of his career. He threw 97 pitches in six innings, giving up four runs and six hits, including a pair of home runs. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out six.
After dropping the first of this four-game series Monday night, Arizona climbed to 22-11. Philadelphia (19-15) fell into a virtual tie for first place in the National League East with Florida (18-14).
"I felt great. It's probably the best I've felt all year, my presence out there," Johnson said. "I pitched according to that the first few innings, then I got frustrated with the execution."
Still, a step forward.
"I'm looking to get deeper into the game," Johnson said.
Eric Bruntlett's two-run homer in the third inning had given the Phillies a 2-1 lead, but that all changed in the fourth.
Phillies right-hander Adam Eaton walked Justin Upton, and Mark Reynolds doubled off the glove of right fielder Jayson Werth. Miguel Montero walked to load the bases.
Augie Ojeda hit a fly ball to left-center field, but it wasn't deep enough to score Upton.
Johnson stepped in.
Eaton could not find the strike zone. Johnson wouldn't bite and took the free pass, allowing Upton to score.
Chris Young's fielder's-choice grounder brought in a run and forced out Johnson at second. Drew hit a 1-2 pitch from Eaton into the swimming pool area in right field for a 6-2 lead.
"The bases loaded and the big guy up. I wouldn't want to pitch to him," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.
"I knew there was one out and the bases loaded," Johnson said.
"I just wanted to be patient and not do anything stupid. Then I had the bat taken out of my hands with the walk, and that let the real people do what they're supposed to do."
After Jayson Werth hit a leadoff homer in the sixth, right fielder Upton threw out Pedro Feliz at second after Feliz hit a pop-up that fell between Upton, second baseman Ojeda and first baseman Conor Jackson.
Johnson retired the next two hitters.
Of the support he gets from his teammates, Johnson said, "When you're out there and you're 44 and everybody is in their 20s, that's the fountain of youth. To see the energy they expend on every play is fun."
The Diamondbacks' bullpen also was a key factor.
Chad Qualls held the Phillies scoreless in the seventh.
Tony Pena gave up a broken-bat single to Pat Burrell in the eighth but struck out two batters, including pinch-hitter Ryan Howard on three pitches.
Brandon Lyon came on in the ninth, giving up two hits before recording his 10th save.
D-Backs report
Key player
Randy Johnson gutted out his second win of the season. His location on the outside of the plate deserted him at times, but he struck out six and gave up six hits in six innings.
Key moment
After Jayson Werth homered to lead off the sixth for the Phillies, right fielder Justin Upton threw out Pedro Feliz at second base after a high pop-up by Feliz dropped between Upton, first baseman Conor Jackson and second baseman Augie Ojeda.
Key number
29 - Games, of the past 31, in which Upton has reached safely. He has batted .360 (41 for 114) during that span.
View from the press box
Randy Johnson said he felt like the Johnson of old in the first few innings. If he continues to make progress, the 44-year-old left-hander can provide a valuable complement to right-handers Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Micah Owings as Arizona attempts to maintain its lead in the National League West.
The Arizona Republic
Mr. Evil Eye became Mr. Eagle Eye on Tuesday night.
Randy Johnson, known for peering menacingly from behind his glove before going into his pitching wind-up, showed he also can judge pitches from the batter's box.
Johnson walked on four pitches with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, forcing in a run to tie the score and paving the way for a three-run home run by shortstop Stephen Drew as the Diamondbacks defeated Philadelphia 6-4 in front of 26,234 fans at Chase Field.
Johnson also pitched well enough to earn his second victory of the season and No. 286 of his career. He threw 97 pitches in six innings, giving up four runs and six hits, including a pair of home runs. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out six.
After dropping the first of this four-game series Monday night, Arizona climbed to 22-11. Philadelphia (19-15) fell into a virtual tie for first place in the National League East with Florida (18-14).
"I felt great. It's probably the best I've felt all year, my presence out there," Johnson said. "I pitched according to that the first few innings, then I got frustrated with the execution."
Still, a step forward.
"I'm looking to get deeper into the game," Johnson said.
Eric Bruntlett's two-run homer in the third inning had given the Phillies a 2-1 lead, but that all changed in the fourth.
Phillies right-hander Adam Eaton walked Justin Upton, and Mark Reynolds doubled off the glove of right fielder Jayson Werth. Miguel Montero walked to load the bases.
Augie Ojeda hit a fly ball to left-center field, but it wasn't deep enough to score Upton.
Johnson stepped in.
Eaton could not find the strike zone. Johnson wouldn't bite and took the free pass, allowing Upton to score.
Chris Young's fielder's-choice grounder brought in a run and forced out Johnson at second. Drew hit a 1-2 pitch from Eaton into the swimming pool area in right field for a 6-2 lead.
"The bases loaded and the big guy up. I wouldn't want to pitch to him," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.
"I knew there was one out and the bases loaded," Johnson said.
"I just wanted to be patient and not do anything stupid. Then I had the bat taken out of my hands with the walk, and that let the real people do what they're supposed to do."
After Jayson Werth hit a leadoff homer in the sixth, right fielder Upton threw out Pedro Feliz at second after Feliz hit a pop-up that fell between Upton, second baseman Ojeda and first baseman Conor Jackson.
Johnson retired the next two hitters.
Of the support he gets from his teammates, Johnson said, "When you're out there and you're 44 and everybody is in their 20s, that's the fountain of youth. To see the energy they expend on every play is fun."
The Diamondbacks' bullpen also was a key factor.
Chad Qualls held the Phillies scoreless in the seventh.
Tony Pena gave up a broken-bat single to Pat Burrell in the eighth but struck out two batters, including pinch-hitter Ryan Howard on three pitches.
Brandon Lyon came on in the ninth, giving up two hits before recording his 10th save.
D-Backs report
Key player
Randy Johnson gutted out his second win of the season. His location on the outside of the plate deserted him at times, but he struck out six and gave up six hits in six innings.
Key moment
After Jayson Werth homered to lead off the sixth for the Phillies, right fielder Justin Upton threw out Pedro Feliz at second base after a high pop-up by Feliz dropped between Upton, first baseman Conor Jackson and second baseman Augie Ojeda.
Key number
29 - Games, of the past 31, in which Upton has reached safely. He has batted .360 (41 for 114) during that span.
View from the press box
Randy Johnson said he felt like the Johnson of old in the first few innings. If he continues to make progress, the 44-year-old left-hander can provide a valuable complement to right-handers Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Micah Owings as Arizona attempts to maintain its lead in the National League West.
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