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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Johnson wins 298th of career


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Washington's Ryan Zimmerman hit two homers in yesterday's 11-7 loss to San Francisco. Zimmerman went 4 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to 29 games.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO — While Randy Johnson closes in on a major pitching milestone, he's a bit worried about challenging another San Francisco great's achievements along the way.

"I'm on pace to catch Barry (Bonds) in home runs — giving them up, that is," the 45-year-old left-hander said with a weary sigh.

Although Johnson yielded three more homers and couldn't stop Ryan Zimmerman's 29-game hitting streak, the San Francisco Giants ensured his 298th career victory last night with their own offensive barrage in an 11-7 win over the Washington Nationals.

Randy Winn had three hits and scored three runs, while Travis Ishikawa also had three hits and drove in two runs as the Giants produced their biggest run total of the season in their 14th victory in 20 games.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson (3-3) gave up eight hits and four runs while outdueling 6-foot-9 Daniel Cabrera in the tallest pitching matchup in baseball history. Johnson threw five strong innings before fading in the sixth after a long, chilly stroll around the basepaths while the Giants drew five consecutive walks and scored five unearned runs in their eighth straight victory over Washington.

"It was an all-or-nothing kind of night," said Johnson, whose 10 homers allowed lead the majors. "You're going to make mistakes, but it just seems like they're magnified now. I don't get away with as many things as I used to. ... It was a lot of fun to watch our offense, though."

BRAVES 8, METS 3:

Derek Lowe (5-1) took a three-hitter into the seventh and won his fourth straight start to outlast Johan Santana (4-2), and Matt Diaz and Casey Kotchman had two-run singles in a four-run top of the seventh as Atlanta ended New York's seven-game winning streak.

REDS 13, DIAMONDBACKS 5:

Willy Taveras matched a career high with five hits and Adam Rosales had a homer and two doubles to lead visiting Cincinnati. Bronson Arroyo (5-2) allowed five runs and 10 hits in seven innings for the Reds.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

INDIANS 9, WHITE SOX 4:

Carl Pavano (3-3) allowed four runs and 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings to win his third straight start, and Shin-Soo Choo and Johnny Peralta drove in three runs apiece as host Cleveland beat Chicago to snap a four-game losing streak.

NOTES

DODGERS' RAMIREZ HAD HIGH TESTOSTERONE:

Manny Ramirez's positive urine test showed an elevated testosterone level, and a lab used a test to determine whether the hormone was naturally produced to build evidence against him, ESPN.com reported yesterday.

Baseball asked the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Montreal to perform a carbon isotope ratio test, which determines whether testosterone is natural or synthetic, the Web site reported. Ramirez's test had a testosterone-epitestosterone ratio between 4:1 and 10:1, ESPN.com reported. Typically, a person naturally produces the hormones at a ratio of 1:1; tests of 4:1 or greater are flagged.

RANGERS' HAMILTON READY TO RETURN:

Texas All-Star center fielder Josh Hamilton said his left rib cage muscles "felt good" after his final game yesterday on a rehabilitation assignment. He will return to Arlington for evaluation today, when he's eligible to return from the disabled list for the opener of a three-game series against Seattle.

Hamilton played all nine innings in center and was 1 for 3 with a double and two walks in Triple-A Oklahoma's 6-5 loss to Round Rock.

NO PURPOSE FOR WHITE SOX'S JENKS:

Chicago closer Bobby Jenks yesterday said he's done throwing purpose pitches following his performance last weekend when he sailed a fastball behind Texas' Ian Kinsler.

Jenks later said the pitch was intentional because he was tired of watching White Sox hitters getting plunked with no retribution. Major League Baseball wants to investigate the matter. "I'll not do it again," Jenks said. "But again, I wasn't trying to hit him. If they'll investigate that, they'll see that. It wasn't a dirty pitch. It wasn't up. It was right at his butt."