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Randy johnson s perfect game on may 18 2004 highlights hd best of the best
On 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 threw his perfect game in 1904. The perfect game was the 17th in baseball history, the predecessor being David Cone in 1999 and the seventh in National League history, the predecessor being Dennis Martinez in 1991.
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5 18 04 randy johnson s perfect game
Background
Going into the game, Johnson had a win-loss record of 3–4 with a 2.83 earned run average (ERA) in eight games. On April 16, 2004, Johnson pitched a complete game shutout against the San Diego Padres.
Game summary
The game started at 7:36 p.m. in front of 23,381 people at Turner Field in Atlanta. 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 [Hammock] 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 was struck out on a 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) fastball. Johnson struck out 13 batters in the game, the third-highest strikeout count in a MLB perfect game behind Sandy Koufax's 14 Ks in 1965 and Matt Cain's 14 Ks in 2012. The perfect game was Johnson's second no-hitter, the first in 1990 on the Seattle Mariners. Johnson's perfect game was the first in the 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.
-Johnny Estrada's first at-bat in the second inning was the longest of the night, requiring 10 pitches before striking out swinging on the 11th pitch. It was the only Braves at-bat that reached three balls in the count.
-Veteran Chipper Jones struck out all three times.
-Andruw Jones and Mark DeRosa were the only Braves batters without a strikeout.
-The play that came closest to 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 the first baseman, Shea Hillenbrand for the out.
Game stats
Reactions
Robby Hammock, the catcher of Johnson's perfect game:
Robin Yount, the bench coach of the Diamondbacks at the time:
Luis Gonzalez, left fielder for the Diamondbacks at the time:
Bob Brenly, Diamondbacks manager at the time: