MLB Recap: Randy Johnson Wins 296th Game

Randy Johnson started yesterday’s game with an ERA of 11.42 but after limiting the Diamondbacks to one hit in seven innings he had lowered it to 6.32. He took the 2-0 victory over the Diamondbacks while winning his 296th game of his career.

He gave up his only hit of the game to Augie Ojeda to start the seventh inning. He completed the seventh inning and was relieved despite having thrown only 73 pitches in the game.

Johnson struck out seven in the contest and has struck out 19 in 15-2/3 innings this season. He needs 192 strikeouts to reach the 5000 strikeouts plateau. The 45year old left-hander was 27 before he started 30 games in a season.

He was 34 before he posted the first 20-win season of his career. If he continues to pitch the way he pitched yesterday he should record his 300th victory by the end of May or early June.

Matt Kemp Leads Dodgers to Eighth Straight Win

The Dodgers extended their winning streak to eight games behind the hitting of  Matt Kemp who hit two homers and drove in five runs. They pounded the Rockies 14-2 behind a 19-hit attack.

Kemp and Andre Ethier who took over the NL lead in runs batted in are showing they could be ready for breakout seasons in 2009. It is early in the season but right now they are both leading Manny Ramirez in runs batted in.

James McDonald pitched four-and-one-third scoreless innings but was removed before he could qualify for the win. The Dodgers lead the NL in runs scored with 82 and in least runs allowed with 40 showing how well balanced this team is.

Marlins Extend NL Lead To Five Games

The Marlins scored four times in the ninth inning to come from behind to defeat the Nationals 7-4 on Sunday. It was the third straight game that the Nationals had blown a ninth inning lead.

Saul Rivera who was the second Nationals pitcher to blow a save and was the losing pitcher in the game was sent to the minor leagues after the game and manager Manny Acta said there will be a new bullpen for their next game as they also sent down relievers Wil Ledezma and Steven Shell.

The win extended their NL East lead to five games over the Braves and Mets. The Marlins are 6-0 on the road and are the only team in the majors to not have lost a road game.

Highly touted rookie pitcher Jordan Zimmermann will join the team today and will  make his major league debut today against the Braves. He will facing Derek Lowe as his mound opponent.

It is not clear from this photo if a fan interfered with Indians right fielder Trevor Crowe on this controversial home run by Jorge Posada that gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning and eventually won the game 7-3.

Yankees Win After Two Breaks Go Their Way

The Yankees were trailing the Indians 3-1 when Jorge Posada hit a controversial three run homer in the seventh inning that gave the Indians a 4-3 lead. The first base umpire Tom Halloran ruled it was a home run after a fan apparently interfered with Indians outfielder Trevor Crowe.

Indians manager Eric Wedge disputed the call and crew chief for the umpires Jerry Crawford left the field to view the replay.

When he returned to the field Crawford  signaled again that it was a home run and then Wedge engaged in a heated argument with Crawford before play resumed.

Cody Ransom came up to bat with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and hit a double to left field that Shin-Soo Choo couldn’t reach and enabled the Yankees to extend their lead to 7-3.

It appeared that Choo had slowed down for some reason before the ball hit the ground. If not for the two breaks from the disputed home run call and the ball that Choo should have caught the Indians would probably have won the game.

Baseball Roundup

Carlos Quentin hit seventh homer of the season and took the major league lead as the White Sox pounded the Rays 12-2...Javier Vazquez won his first game of the season since joining the Braves as he pitched six scoreless innings and struck out eight in their 11-1 defeat of the Pirates.

The Braves had been shut out in their previous two games by 3-0 on Friday and 10-0 on Saturday….Both Chicago teams are in first place with the White Sox tied with the Royals and Tigers in a three way tie for first place in the AL Central with a one game lead over the Twins.

The Cubs lead the NL Central by 21 percentage points with the Cardinals in second place.

Stephen Strasburg 8-0 This Season

Stephen Strasburg pitched the San Diego State Aztecs to a 1-0 win over the New Mexico Lobos last Friday. He gave up 6 hits and one walk in the complete game victory while striking out 14.  His record for the season is now 8-0 with an ERA of 1.28.

Strasburg has allowed nine earned runs, 40 hits, 12 walks and 121 strikeouts this season in 63-1/3 innings. His 121 strikeouts to 12 walks ratio is amazing and Strasburg is almost a lock to be drafted first by the Nationals in the amateur draft in June. However, with Scott Boras as his agent his asking price may be so high that the Nationals may pass on Strasburg.

If the Nationals don’t draft him the Mariners would be next in line to draft Strasburg.  The Nationals may not want to deal with Boras but if they want to sign Strasburg they will have to deal with the shrewd agent who doesn’t mind waiting to get the best deal for Strasburg.