Randy Johnson's perfect game


On May 18, 2004, Randy Johnson, pitching for the Major League Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks, threw a perfect game, beating the Atlanta Braves 2–0 at Turner Field in Atlanta before a crowd of 23,381. Johnson, at 40 years, was the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game, surpassing Cy Young who was 37 when he threw his perfect game in 1904. This was baseball's 17th perfect game, with David Cone's perfect game having been the 16th in 1999. Johnson's perfect game was the seventh in National League history and the first-ever Diamondbacks no-hitter.

Background

Going into the game, Johnson had a win–loss record of 3–4 with a 2.83 earned run average in eight games during the 2004 season.

Game summary

The game started at 7:36 p.m. EDT in front of 23,381 fans at Turner Field in Atlanta. The game was televised nationally by TBS as part of the Braves' TV contract and on FSN Arizona in the Diamondbacks' local market. Johnson's catcher for the game was Robby Hammock, who was playing his second season in the Majors. Johnson later praised Hammock stating, "I only shook off two or three times...He called a great game. The thing is he was probably the most excited guy in the clubhouse, and I'm happy for that. He's come a long way." The last batter of the game was pinch-hitter Eddie Pérez, who struck out on a fastball. Johnson struck out 13 batters, the third-most strikeouts in an MLB perfect game behind Sandy Koufax's 14 strikeouts in 1965 and Matt Cain's 14 strikeouts in 2012. The perfect game was Johnson's second no-hitter. His first was in 1990 for the Seattle Mariners. Johnson's perfect game was the first in MLB since David Cone on July 18, 1999 for the New York Yankees, and the first in the National League since Dennis Martínez of the Montreal Expos on July 28, 1991. Johnson, who was 40 at the time, surpassed Cy Young as the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history. Young, who achieved the feat in 1904, was 37 at the time.
The play that came closest to being a hit was Mike Hampton's second at-bat in the sixth inning when a chop ground ball dribbling left of the second base bag resulted in Alex Cintrón performing a do-or-die running grab and throw to first baseman Shea Hillenbrand for the out.

Game statistics

;General reference: Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2010.

Box score

ArizonaABRHRBIBBSOAVG
Chad Tracy, 3B402110.348
Matt Kata, 2B500001.254
Luis Gonzalez, LF300010.271
Shea Hillenbrand, 1B401001.261
Steve Finley, CF401000.265
Danny Bautista, RF411000.341
Alex Cintrón, SS413100.255
Robby Hammock, C300011.229
Randy Johnson, P400002.150
Totals3528235.228

BATTING
  • 2B: Cintron 2.
  • TB: Tracy 2; Hillenbrand; Finley; Bautista; Cintron 5.
  • RBI: Cintron, Tracy.
  • 2-out RBI: Cintron, Tracy.
  • Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hammock, Hillenbrand, Bautista, Kata 2.
  • GIDP: Gonzalez, L.
  • Team LOB: 9.
ArizonaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Randy Johnson 900001302.43
Totals900001300.00

AtlantaABRHRBIBBSOAVG
Jesse Garcia, SS300002.284
Julio Franco, 1B300001.255
Chipper Jones, LF300003.238
Andruw Jones, CF300000.246
Johnny Estrada, C300002.333
J. D. Drew, RF300001.296
Mark DeRosa, 3B300000.201
Nick Green, 2B300002.222
Mike Hampton, P200001.200
Eddie Pérez, PH100001.200
Totals27000013.000

FIELDING
  • E: DeRosa, Estrada, Hampton.
  • Outfield assists: Jones, A.
  • DP:.
AtlantaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Mike Hampton 98223506.36
Totals98223502.00

Other info

  • Pitches-strikes: Johnson 117–87, Hampton 107–71.
  • Ground outs-fly outs: Johnson 7–7, Hampton 13–8.
  • Batters faced: Johnson 27, Hampton 38.
  • Umpires: HP: Greg Gibson. 1B: Bruce Dreckman. 2B: Gerry Davis. 3B: Larry Poncino.
  • Weather: 72 °F, cloudy.
  • Wind: 5 mph, Out to CF.
  • Time: 2:13.
  • Attendance: 23,381.
  • Venue: Turner Field.

Reactions

Robby Hammock, the catcher of Johnson's perfect game:
Robin Yount, the bench coach of the Diamondbacks:
Luis Gonzalez, left fielder for the Diamondbacks:
Bob Brenly, Diamondbacks manager: