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Posted By	Discussion Topic: Johnson Strikes Out 20!
Froy King Shit *board owner*	posted on 05-09-2001 @ 2:35 PM
O&A Board Veteran Registered: Feb. 01	PHOENIX (AP) -- Too bad it didn't end in nine innings for Randy Johnson. Johnson wrote another page of baseball history when he became the third pitcher to strike out 20 in nine innings, but got neither a share of the record nor a victory. When he took a seat after throwing 124 pitches, the score was 1-1. The game went to 11 innings before the Diamondbacks scored three times to beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Tuesday night. ``It was just an incredible ball game,'' Johnson said. ``You know, I'm just really glad we won after losing a close one last night. For us to come back and win the ball game after losing last night is obviously really important, because I think the momentum will change a bit for everybody.'' Johnson became the first left-hander to strike out 20, but didn't join Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood, who share the record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game. The Elias Sports Bureau, baseball's statistician, said Johnson's performance will be considered as occurring in an extra-inning game even though he came out after nine. The major league record for an extra-inning game is 21 by Tom Cheney for Washington against Baltimore in a 16-inning game on Sept. 12, 1962. Johnson was satisfied, though, and let manager Bob Brenly know he didn't want to continue pitching. ``I saw no point in going out there for the 10th inning,'' Johnson said. ``I surely could have went out there and done it, but what was the point in going out there and throwing 10 innings? I really didn't see it. The outcome is what's important.'' Clemens struck out 20 for Boston against Seattle on April 29, 1986, and did it again at Detroit on Sept. 18, 1996. Wood struck out 20 for the Chicago Cubs against Houston on May 6, 1998. Players on both sides were caught up in the drama as the strikeouts mounted. Reds closer Danny Graves (1-1), who lost when he gave up three hits in the 11th and then walked Matt Williams with the bases loaded, said Johnson deserved a victory. ``It just wasn't meant to be tonight after what the Big Unit did,'' Graves said. ``Striking out 20 guys? You kind of think there's no way we should win after the performance he had.'' Mark Grace, who hit a two-run double in the 11th to tie it, played in Wood's game. ``There really wasn't much difference,'' Grace said. ``They both had that electric slider going.'' Johnson threw 124 pitches, 92 for strikes, and walked none before Byung-Hyun Kim relieved to start the 10th. Johnson struck out the side in the fourth, seventh and eighth innings, and fanned two batters in the first, second, third, fifth and ninth. He struck out only one in the sixth. The 37-year-old pitcher won the last two NL Cy Young Awards and the AL Cy Young in 1995. He had 18 strikeouts in the first eight innings, then struck out pinch-hitter Deion Sanders on three pitches leading off the ninth. Donnie Sadler grounded out, then Juan Castro went down swinging. The pitcher tipped his cap in the direction of his family and team owner Jerry Colangelo behind the dugout as he walked off the field. Bank One Ballpark put a ``K'' on the scoreboard for each strikeout, but the board ran out of room. Additional ``Ks'' were tacked on the side of the board, with lights forming ''20'' in the middle. Johnson struck out Barry Larkin and Alex Ochoa three times apiece. He fanned nine of his first 12 batters and eight of his last nine, and allowed three hits. Boone singled with one out in the fifth for Cincinnati's first hit. He stole second and scored when Rivera singled up the middle. Cincinnati's third hit off Johnson was a sixth-inning single by Sadler. The Diamondbacks tied it on an RBI single by Reggie Sanders in the sixth off Reitsma. Cincinnati went ahead 3-1 in the 11th. Russ Springer loaded the bases on two walks and an error, and Ochoa hit a two-run sacrifice fly to deep center field off Troy Brohawn (1-1). But Jay Bell and Luis Gonzalez singled to start the 11th, and Graves (1-1) blew a save for the second time in 11 chances. Johnson twice struck out 19 in 1997 games for Seattle, in a 4-1 loss to Oakland and a 5-0 win against the Chicago White Sox. ``I've struck out 19 before and lost, and I've struck out 19 and won. I get a no-decision today, but the team won, and that's the bottom line,'' he said. The only other left-hander to reach 19 was Steve Carlton, in 1969, losing to the New York Mets 4-3. With 3,132 strikeouts, Johnson passed Bob Gibson (3,117) for 11th place on the career list. Nolan Ryan holds the record with 5,714. ``The people that I'm in a category with now, I feel extremely honored to be included,'' Johnson said. ~Matt/Froy from Jersey Official Protector of Gay Marco & SwampJunk...if he ever decides to post.
suicidalsteve	posted on 05-09-2001 @ 3:19 PM
Psychopath Registered: Jan. 01	Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that there's gonna be an * next to Johnsons name for what he did last night? I mean he struck out 20 guys in 9 innings, as much as I hate the guy I'm sorry but he tied the record, no questions asked. I just don't get how he's not in the same category as Clemens and Wood just cause the game went into the 11th I think it was.
Francine Banger	posted on 05-09-2001 @ 3:47 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Dec. 00	He's not even going to get an asterick. Its ridiciculous. He pitched 9 innings and struck out 20 just like Clemens and Wood. What should it matter what happened after that.
Drunken GW I Pissed on a Church to get this Status.	posted on 05-09-2001 @ 3:49 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Dec. 00	That's how the Elias Sports Bureau works. True fans know what the accomplishment is.....Truley spectacular. I think the bastard could have faced a couple more batters. He and Pedro are on a different level than any other pitchers in the game. Half assing it.
Sniper	posted on 05-09-2001 @ 3:53 PM
Psychopath Registered: Aug. 00	HE deserves his status as ONE HELL OF A PITCHER who will rank in the top 10 in strikeouts when his career is over. He`s just lucky Joe McEwing wasn`t playing for the REDS last night!!! PICKING OFF ASS F`s 1 BY 1!!!

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