Randy Johnson Close to Win 300 After Victory

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“I don’t know what it’s going to be like,” Randy Johnson said, on the cusp of career win number 300. “I can’t anticipate things until they happen. I’m just grateful I’m in this position.”

That’s what SHE said.

“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.”

The Big Unit then got back to work.

Johnson threw six stellar innings against the Atlanta Braves, giving up just three hits and one run in the Giants’ 6-3 victory on Wednesday night.

Johnson (4-4) retired the Braves’ first nine hitters and 15 of the first 16 in a performance reminiscent of the Big Unit in his inimitable prime, although the 45-year-old left-hander has less power and more precision these days.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner struck out five, taking his career strike-out total to 4,843…that’s the second-most in baseball history. He gave up zero walks and surrendered his only run on Casey Kotchman’s RBI single in the sixth, which he finished by striking out Chipper Jones for the third time.

“The thing about Randy, he used to be a power pitcher,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “He studies the game and hitters, and he made great adjustments today. … He kept the ball down. He had a good fastball, was locating it well, and using both sides of the plate. Good command, and he had one of his better sliders.”

Johnson likely will get his first chance to become the 24th major leaguer with 300 victories next Wednesday at Washington.

“I’m sure he’s been waiting for this moment all year,” Bochy said. “The way the game is, it’s tougher for these starters, with the way they’re being used, to get the wins and reach 300. [Jamie] Moyer, who knows how long he’ll keep pitching? He’s not that far away, but it’s going to be a long time before we see another guy reach 300.”

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