THREE UP
This can’t be a good sign for NL hitters. Randy Johnson, finding his groove at age 43, regularly hit 96 m.p.h. with his fastball and struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings to win his second start in a row. The Big Unit fanned the Pirates’ No. 3-6 hitters a combined seven times.
Geoff Jenkins waited until his teammates pushed him out for a curtain call in the fifth. After all, his three-run homer had only tied the game 5-5. So Jenkins drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh. The homer was his 200th, all for the Brewers. “He’s the man here,” Prince Fielder said.
Erik Bedard kept making hitters swing and miss. The Orioles left-hander gave up only three hits, tied a career high with 12 strikeouts, had his first two major-league hits and first RBI and left with a 3-1 lead after seven innings. But that’s when things came apart …
THREE DOWN
… as the Nationals touched up Baltimore’s high-priced bullpen for three runs on four hits to spoil Bedard’s outing. The O’s spent $41.5 million in the off-season on three relievers who pitched in the eighth: Danys Baez (who took the loss), Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker.
Adam Eaton is rounding into form. As for rounding the bases, the Phillies would rather that he save his energy. Charlie Manuel said Eaton “ran out of gas” running from first to third and had to exit. It almost cost him a win as Toronto cut his five-run lead to two in the eighth.
James Shields gave up a run with eight K’s in seven innings. Then Florida teed off on the Devil Rays’ bullpen for a 4-3 win. Shields has three no-decisions in a row despite allowing just four runs and 14 hits. Manager Joe Maddon: “It’s frustrating for him. It’s frustrating for us.”
