WASHINGTON -Randy Johnson earned his 300th win, becoming the 24th major league pitcher to reach the milestone by leading the San Francisco Giants to a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.
The Big Unit allowed two hits and an unearned run over six innings. With his teenage son serving as a batboy, Johnson struck out two and walked two in his first attempt at No. 300. The left-hander got his 299th victory last week against Atlanta.
At 45, Johnson is the second-oldest pitcher to reach the milestone. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro was 46 when he won his 300th game with the New York Yankees in 1985.
Johnson left after 78 pitches leading 2-1, but nearly wound up with a no-decision. The Nationals loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth before Adam Dunn was called out on strikes with a full count on a knee-high fastball from reliever Brian Wilson.
San Francisco added three runs in the ninth, and Wilson finished for his 13th save.
Only a few thousand fans sat through the light rain to witness Johnsons 300th victory – the Nationals have trouble drawing a crowd for anything these days.
Johnson (5-4) became the sixth left-hander to win 300 games, and the first pitcher to do it on his first try since Tom Seaver in 1985.
Pirates 11, Mets 6
PITTSBURGH – Jason Jaramillo drove in four runs, prized prospect Andrew McCutchen had a productive major league debut and Pittsburgh completed a rain-shortened, three-game sweep of New York.
Ramon Vazquez went 4 for 4 and Andy LaRoche had two RBIs for the Pirates, who played their first game since trading All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta on Wednesday.
The deal made room for McCutchen, a 22-year-old speedy center fielder. He went 2 for 4 with three runs, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base as Pittsburgh roughed up Mike Pelfrey (4-2).
Carlos Beltran, playing his first game in five days because of a stomach virus, homered and doubled off the wall for the Mets, who have lost four of five. They were swept on the road for the third time this season.
The depleted Mets also got a double dose of bad news: injured shortstop Jose Reyes (calf) now has a tear in his right hamstring and reliever J.J. Putz is experiencing elbow pain.
Steven Jackson (1-0) got his first major league win in his second game with two scoreless innings of relief.
Marlins 4, Brewers 3
MIAMI – Josh Johnson hit a three-run shot for his first career homer and pitched into the eighth inning, leading Florida over Milwaukee.
John Baker had an RBI single in a four-run fourth for the Marlins, who took three of four from the NL Central leaders. Matt Lindstrom worked a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
Johnson (5-1) allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings. He walked one and struck out eight in earning his first home victory since April 12.
He connected off Dave Bush (3-2) in the fourth to give Florida a 4-1 lead.
Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer and an RBI triple for the Brewers.
