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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHOENIX -- Early this season, Randy Johnson conquered the
wildness that marked his early years. Then he took a step backward
in his final chance this year to win 20 games for the second time.
|  | | Randy Johnson didn't last four innings, and gave up eight earned runs and seven hits in that span. |
Johnson was knocked out after Calvin Murray's fourth-inning
grand slam, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona
Diamondbacks 11-4 Sunday in their regular-season finale.
"We've been struggling against left-handers forever, and today
we faced the best lefty in baseball and beat him," said Murray, a
rookie who had one homer and 18 RBI in 107 previous games. "That
should help going into the playoffs."
Trying for his first 20-victory season since going 20-4 for Seattle
in 1997, Johnson (19-7) was pounded for nine runs -- eight earned -- and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.
"It's very difficult to win 20," Johnson said. "It was
looking me in the face, but I think that in the two years that I've
been here, this is probably the one game that I pressed a little
bit out there."
Johnson had held the National League lead in ERA since April, but it shot up
from 2.38 to 2.64, giving the title to Kevin Brown of the Los
Angeles Dodgers at 2.58.
Johnson struck out five, finishing with 347 and leading the major
leagues for the seventh time, but also walked five, hit a batter
and threw a wild pitch.
After going 14-2 in 19 starts before the All-Star break, Johnson
went 5-5 in his final 16. He finished with 23 double-digit
strikeout games for the second consecutive season, matching the record
Nolan Ryan set in 1973.
"I think he was trying a little too hard," catcher Kelly
Stinnett said.
The Giants went 97-65, finishing with the best record in
baseball for the first time since 1962, when the went 103-62.
The locker room was relatively subdued, and manager Dusty Baker
said that was appropriate.
"We don't have time to think about the best record. We want to
have the best postseason record," Baker said.
San Francisco opens its best-of-five NL first-round series at home
Wednesday, with Livan Hernandez (17-11) pitching for the Giants
against the New York Mets' Mike Hampton (15-10).
Arizona, which won the NL West last year in just the second
season of the franchise, dropped from 100-62 to 85-77, putting manager
Buck Showalter's job in jeopardy. The Diamondbacks finished third,
12 games behind San Francisco.
Ellis Burks drove in four runs for the Giants, and Russ Ortiz
(14-12) allowed four runs and five hits in six innings, including a
three-run homer by Matt Williams in the first.
After Burks' sacrifice fly put the Giants ahead in the first,
Arizona took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half on Luis Gonzalez's run-scoring single and Williams' homer.
"Russ was struggling early with his command," Williams said.
"He settled down real nice and pitched well after that, but he
just happened to leave one out over the plate."
Johnson struck out the side in the second, then gave up a
two-run triple to Burks in the third.
Johnson hit Benard with one out in the third, gave up a single
to Bill Mueller, threw a wild pitch and walked Kent, loading the bases.
Shortstop Craig Counsell booted a grounder by Burks, allowing
two runs and putting the Giants ahead 5-4.
Johnson walked Rich Aurilia and Murray hit his first career
slam. It was the Giants' seventh of the season, tying the team
record, and the team's 225th homer, extending the franchise record.
Felipe Crespo added a two-run homer off Russ Springer in the
ninth.
Game notes
It was the second-worst outing of Johnson's career, better
only than a 12-6 defeat to Toronto on April 10, 1994, when he gave up
11 runs -- 10 earned -- and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. ... Johnson
has 3,040 strikeouts, 12th on the career list. He also won 19 games
in 1993 and 1998. ... Johnson has 1,040 strikeouts in the last
three seasons, second-most in a three-year span behind Ryan's 1,079
from 1972-74. ... The Giants were 7-6 against Arizona this year,
5-1 in Phoenix. ... Ortiz is 9-2 in his last 12 starts. ... Kent
went 2-for-2, finishing the season with 196 hits, the most for San
Francisco since Willie Mays had 199 in 1960. ... Williams had five
of his 12 homers in his last 10 games.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
San Francisco Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 11
Toronto 4
Detroit 12
Minnesota 11
Tampa Bay 3
Boston 2
Baltimore 7
NY Yankees 3
Kansas City 6
Chi. White Sox 2
Seattle 5
Anaheim 2
Oakland 3
Texas 0
Colorado 10
Atlanta 5
NY Mets 3
Montreal 2
St. Louis 6
Cincinnati 2
Florida 7
Philadelphia 5
Chicago Cubs 10
Pittsburgh 9
San Diego 4
Los Angeles 0
San Francisco 11
Arizona 4
Houston 6
Milwaukee 1
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