“Somewhere R.J. wouldn’t see. On May 18, 2004, Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson throws a perfect game against the Braves, becoming the oldest player in MLB history to accomplish the feat. "A game like this was pretty special," said Johnson, a
Read more: Former D-backs manager Bob Brenly sat down with MLB.com recently to describe for the first time a conversation he had that night with bench coach Robin Yount. No other pitcher on the Diamondbacks staff had more than seven wins.
Nobody hit more homers against the Big Unit than Jones (six), nobody had a higher OPS (1.195) among those with at least 40 PA. We weren’t thinking of taking him out when he had a perfect game.
The 2020 version of Randy Johnson is docile. In his free time, he indulges in photography.The 2004 version of Johnson, then a pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, didn’t come off the same way.Johnson threw the first and only perfect game in Diamondbacks history on May 18, 2004. “But that was it. Arizona's #51 Randy Johnson is swarmed by teammates after pitching a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves May 18, 2004, at Turner Field, in Atlanta, Georgia. PHOENIX -- It was the start of the seventh or eighth inning ofPHOENIX -- It was the start of the seventh or eighth inning of the game between the D-backs and Braves in Atlanta on May 18, 2004, and Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson was dealing.The Big Unit had a perfect game going, but a tenuous 2-0 lead when manager Bob Brenly turned to his bench coach Robin Yount.“As a manager you’re constantly trying to look ahead and prepare for what could happen,” Brenly said.
Arizona's #51 Randy Johnson is swarmed by teammates after pitching a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves May 18, 2004, at Turner Field, in Atlanta, Georgia.
I wondered if we should get someone warming up at some point just in case.”Johnson racked up plenty of "high pitch count games" during his career. Johnson posted a 16-14 record and led the league with 290 strikeouts. In interviews, he’s talkative. We weren’t going to do anything to mess with the game. Jones, a fellow Hall of Famer, was a thorn in Johnson’s side throughout their careers, with a line of .349/.404/.791 in 47 plate appearances. They completed the year with a 51-111 record, 42 games out of first place. Although the perfect game was obviously the highlight of Arizona’s season, the Diamondbacks could not overcome a disappointing season. Of course, that was especially the case with Johnson, a future Hall of Famer, on the mound.“I don’t think it was any different from the games he pitched,” Luis Gonzalez recalled to Johnson’s intimidation factor surely kept teammates on their toes, but it helped him in the heat of competition when facing opposing hitters. He did it on the road against the Atlanta Braves, and the game started off with a bunt attempt up the first base line that Shea Hillenbrand fielded himself.“My thought is, why in the heck would anybody want to bunt off Randy?” Hillenbrand asked when he joined “He operated at a superhuman level,” Hillenbrand said. PHOENIX -- It was the start of the seventh or eighth inning of My locker was right nextdoor to Randy’s for two years and I talked to him probably for a total of one hour in two years. “You couldn’t even talk to Randy the day before the game. throw a perfect game, retiring all 27 hitters to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves 2-0 Tuesday night. Brenly recalls Big Unit's perfecto 15 years later (Photo by Rex Brown/WireImage)
May 17, 2019 “Later on, I faced him again, I think it was with Houston, I’m not 100% sure.Laughing through the memories of Johnson’s intensity, guests fondly remembered what a big moment the veteran pitcher provided for the struggling team in what was a bad 2004 season for the Diamondbacks.On anniversary of perfect game, Randy Johnson’s intensity stands out
Saturday is the 15th anniversary of Randy Johnson’s perfect game.
On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, Randy Johnson, who was a pitcher for the Major League Baseball (MLB) Arizona Diamondbacks, pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves.The game took place at Turner Field in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 23,381 people. Johnson, who was 40 at the time, was the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game, surpassing Cy Young who was 37 when he … No other pitcher has thrown one past age 37.• Johnson is one of three pitchers to strike out at least 13 batters in a perfecto, along with Sandy Koufax (14 in 1965) and Matt Cain (14 in 2012).• He is one of seven pitchers to throw a perfect game on the road, doing it in Atlanta -- against a Braves team that won 96 games and a division title.• The key to the perfect game was that Johnson managed to strike out Chipper Jones in all three of their matchups.
Randy Johnson, 40, retired all 27 Atlanta Braves he faced in the game at Turner Field and became the oldest pitcher in history to record a perfect game … Gonzalez recalled facing Johnson twice when he played for other teams.“I remember I faced him when I was with the Tigers in Seattle and I think I punched out three times in that game, it wasn’t a very comfortable game,” Gonzalez said. It was about having someone ready in case he lost it.”But before they could discuss it further, Johnson mowed the Braves down 1-2-3, so they dropped it.“We did have some relievers stretching in the back of the bullpen,” Brenly said. Former D-backs manager Bob Brenly sat down with MLB.com recently to describe for the first time a conversation he had that night with bench coach Robin Yount.