Making his first start since his latest back surgery, Diamondbacks left-hander Randy Johnson didn't look particularly sharp Monday night, but he looked much more polished than the defense behind him.
Two errors and a handful of other miscues allowed the San Francisco Giants to score five unearned runs en route to a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on a chilly and windy night at AT&T Park.
Johnson allowed three unearned runs in five innings, looking a lot like he did in his first start off of back surgery last year. At times, he looked like the Johnson of old. Other times, he looked like a pitcher still trying to find his form.
Despite getting little help from the defense, Johnson left with the lead, but an error by shortstop Stephen Drew in the seventh inning paved the way for the Giants to score twice and take the lead against reliever Chad Qualls.
With the bases loaded, San Francisco's Ray Durham hit a grounder toward first base, where Conor Jackson fielded. But instead of going home where he appeared to have a play, Jackson threw to second for the force.
One batter later, Bengie Molina delivered a sacrifice fly to put the Giants ahead for good and send the Diamondbacks to yet another loss in this ballpark, where they are 14-33 since 2003.
Johnson struggled with his command, particularly early in the game. His first four pitches of the game, all fastballs, sailed up and off the plate, well out of the strike zone.
Though he threw sliders for strikes, he missed nine times with fastballs in the first inning before finally throwing a strike with a 90 mph heater on his 16th pitch.
But his command steadily improved. After throwing balls on 17 of his first 27 pitches, he finished by firing strikes on 39 of his final 63.
Johnson showed flashes of dominance. A slider in the first inning nearly hit the back foot of a swinging Aaron Rowand. He froze Rich Aurilia on an inside fastball for strike three and struck out Dan Ortmeier and Brian Bocock on high fastballs.
At times, however, his location was spotty, his stuff inconsistent and his velocity just passable, as he worked in the 89-92 mph range. But if last season is any indication, this just might be the beginning for Johnson as he works into shape.
Still, he was effective and likely would have pitched deeper had the defense been better.
An error by third baseman Mark Reynolds started the second inning, and after a walk and a sacrifice bunt, the Giants had runners at second and third with two out for Randy Winn.
With the count full, Johnson fired a slider that broke Winn's bat, but the bloop barely eluded Drew, who ranged into left field only to have the ball pop out of his glove on a dive.
Both runners scored, and Winn came home a batter later when Rowand doubled on a ball just out of Reynolds' reach.
Johnson had a lead to work with before he even took the mound thanks to Jackson, who followed a walk to Orlando Hudson by blistering an inside fastball from Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez for a two-run homer.
After the Giants took a 3-2 lead, the Diamondbacks answered with two more runs, Jackson and Justin Upton delivering RBI singles.
Comment: Perspective from Arizona. The Giants are playing better now. The infusion of youth has inspired the club. Where was John Bowker? Obviously, Bruce Bochy did not want to see how he could hit against a southpaw the stature of the Big Unit. Hopefully, the Giants play is a positive sign of the future. Has anyone taken a look at the minors? The Giants young pitchers have been lights out. Their hitting.....sound familiar...keep it up Giants!
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