Johnson takes no-hitter into 7th, Giants win 2-0

[April 20, 2009]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Randy Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against his former team and the San Francisco Giants held on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 Sunday.

Johnson, who allowed one hit in seven innings, was perfect through four innings. He faced the minimum through six and stranded Augie Ojeda at third base after the shortstop doubled to open the seventh.

The 45-year-old Johnson (1-2) got his 296th career win in his first start against the Diamondbacks, who he spent eight seasons with. Bob Howry pitched the eighth and Brian Wilson got the last three outs for his second save.

Travis Ishikawa's bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fourth drove in Randy Winn with the game's first run.

Arizona right-hander Max Scherzer (0-1), who was born the summer Johnson finished his sophomore season at Southern California, allowed three hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out six.

Johnson walked Tony Clark to open the fifth and Chris Young bounced into a fielder's choice. Johnson picked off Young for the second out and got Justin Upton on a fly out to center fielder Aaron Rowand.

Ryan Roberts drew a walk off Johnson to start the sixth. After striking out former batterymate Chris Snyder, Johnson got pinch hitter Mark Reynolds to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Johnson worked his way out of the seventh by getting Felipe Lopez to bounce out to drawn-in shortstop Edgar Renteria and then struck out Clark.

Both team struggled to score runs during the series, totaling six in the 52 innings as the pitchers combined for a 2.07 ERA.

Winn and Rowand walked around a single by Bengie Molina to load the bases with no outs in the fourth. Pablo Sandoval, who had three hits in the game, struck out ahead of Ishikawa's sacrifice fly. Renteria singled to reload the bases but Johnson struck out to end the inning.

Molina, Rowand and Sandoval opened the eighth with consecutive singles and scored when pinch hitter Rich Aurilia grounded into a double play.

Notes: Johnson was the third pitcher in the Bay Area to take a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the past eight days. Athletics' RHP Trevor Cahill did it against the Seattle Mariners last Sunday and Red Sox RHP Tim Wakefield went seven no-hit innings against the A's on Wednesday. ... Giants manager Bruce Bochy tinkered with his lineup again, moving Fred Lewis into the leadoff spot, Winn to No. 3 and Sandoval to No. 6, all for the first time this season. ... The Giants have won their first two home series. ... The Diamondbacks are hitting .211 (15-71) with runners in scoring position, last in the NL.

[Associated Press]

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