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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 12:21 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2009

MLB: Giants' Randy Johnson impressive in Bay Bridge Series

By Curtis Pashelka
Contra Costa Times

SAN FRANCISCO — Expectations for what Giants starter Randy Johnson will accomplish this season seem to be slightly tempered. And perhaps that's understandable considering some of the injuries he's had and the question of whether his teammates can give him a decent amount of run support.

But after some of the starts Johnson has made during this extended exhibition season, maybe it's time to raise those expectations just a little bit.

Johnson allowed just one earned run and four hits in five innings before the A's went on to a 2-1, 10-inning win at AT&T Park on Friday night in the second game of the Bay Bridge Series. Infielder Jack Hannahan scored the winning run after he advanced from second base to home on a pair of Luis Perdomo wild pitches.

"I feel pretty good right now, and if something happens, it's going to happen. There's nothing I can do about it," Johnson said. "I'm just going to enjoy it while I'm out there because I feel that good."

A's left-hander Dana Eveland was equally impressive in his final tuneup of the spring, lasting six innings and allowing just three hits. The series concludes on Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum.

Johnson, who missed two starts this spring because of biceps tendinitis, allowed two earned runs in three innings in a March 23 start against the Seattle Mariners. But overall, he came into Friday's game with a 1-2 record and a 2.38 ERA.

"I think I'm going to enjoy pitching in this ball park," said Johnson, who had four strikeouts threw 48 of 72 pitches for strikes. "Couple of those balls that were hit pretty hard, I think they would have been out in Arizona. ... Instead of giving up a home run, I give up a base hit and I can live with that."

Johnson's four strikeouts Friday brought his total for the exhibition season to 16. He also finished the spring with just five walks.

Considering the other starters the Giants have, some Giants fans might be happy to see Johnson stay healthy and finish with between 10-12 wins. In two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Johnson was a combined 15-13.

Eveland could have used a solid outing after struggling in his last three exhibition starts. He gave up five earned runs in four innings on March 23 against the Chicago Cubs and four earned runs in seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last Saturday.

The Giants had scored a run on Fred Lewis' RBI single in the bottom of the third inning and had the bases loaded with one out. But Eveland settled down and got Bengie Molina to pop up and Pablo Sandoval to ground out.

The Giants had runners on first and third with one out in the fourth, but Eveland again found his rhythm and struck out Emmanuel Burriss and got Randy Winn to line out to third baseman Bobby Crosby.

In seven exhibition starts, Eveland had 19 strikeouts and allowed 13 earned runs in 27°innings.

"It's nice to get out of Arizona and get up here and where the ball actually does what it's supposed to do," Eveland said. "It was nice to see my ball move again. I pitch off of my slider and my sinker."

Giants reliever Joe Martinez pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one walk and striking out two.