Hawai'i native Williams beats Big Unit again

By Andrew Baggarly
Special to The Advertiser

PHOENIX — Maybe Randy Johnson will be traded to a contender. Maybe that team will make the playoffs. Maybe the San Francisco Giants will, too. And maybe the Big Unit will be waiting for them.

Jerome Williams, in just his 40th major league start, beat Randy Johnson for the third time. Williams allowed three hits in seven innings. Associated Press

For the third time in his 40 major league starts, the 22-year-old Honolulu native cut down the certain first-ballot Hall of Famer. Williams held the Arizona Diamondbacks to three hits and an unearned run over seven innings, and Jim Brower and Jason Christiansen picked up their bullpen mates as the Giants won, 3-1, last night at Bank One Ballpark.

Barry Bonds drove in a run with a groundout and the Giants took advantage of an error by left fielder Luis Gonzalez to take a 3-0 lead after the second inning in what possibly was their last glimpse of Johnson in an Arizona uniform.

If the Diamondbacks decide to deal Johnson, they have 10 days to act before the July 31 trade deadline.

Williams said he hopes Johnson stays put, so he has another shot to collect that first hit against him.

"I came close,'' said Williams, who lined out to second base in the second inning. "If the infield isn't playing shallow, I get on base.''

For now, Williams will have to be satisfied with a 3-0 record against the Big Unit.

"I tell everybody I never think about who I'm going out to pitch against,'' Williams said. "He's a great pitcher. If he does get traded, I hope he does well wherever he goes.''

Williams beat Johnson on Aug. 30 last year in a 2-1 game. It was his 15th career start. He beat Johnson again July 9 at San Francisco. He completed the trifecta yesterday, though he battled an erratic fastball at times. Williams walked four, including Johnson once on four pitches.

The last of the four pitches was a low fastball that would have been at the knees of any major league player — except the 6-foot-10 Big Unit.

"He was mad at himself,'' catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. "I told him it was over with and to make a good pitch to the next guy.''

Williams did, inducing a double-play grounder from Roberto Alomar to end the fifth inning. Williams expertly covered first base on the play.

Williams had allowed just three hits through seven innings when Alomar reached on a bunt single to lead off the eighth. Williams made a diving attempt but missed, and punched the turf as he lay on his stomach.

Williams had thrown just 92 pitches but Alou went to his bullpen, which has struggled in recent days.

"I was a little surprised to come out," Williams said, "but I can't do anything about it."

Left-hander Scott Eyre allowed Alomar to score and made a throwing error before Brower entered and got a double-play grounder from Shea Hillenbrand to end the eighth. Closer Matt Herges loaded the bases in the ninth but Christiansen entered and got a double-play grounder from Alomar to end the game.

The committee barely preserved the victory for Williams, who improved to 9-6 and drew praise for his opponent.

"It was a well-pitched game on their side," Johnson said. "Give a little credit to the opposing pitcher."

Johnson (10-8) allowed three runs — two earned — on seven hits over seven innings with a walk and six strikeouts.

After Bonds' groundout made it 1-0 in the first, San Francisco added two more in the second — on Gonzalez's misplay of Torrealba's single and Ray Durham's sacrifice fly.

Andrew Baggarly is a reporter for the Oakland Tribune. The Associated Press contributed to this report.