Remember, Randy is a freak of nature.
FRESNO, Calif - Five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson sauntered to the mound at Grizzlies Stadium on Saturday for his first start since April 27, seemingly effortlessly retired the 12 batters he faced in order.
Then he shook hands with his temporary teammates and professed himself pleasantly surprised with the entire experience.
"It was a big step," the D'backs ace said after his rehabilitation start for the Sidewinders. "I was very encouraged by the way I pitched."
Johnson, who originally was scheduled to pitch in Tucson on Thursday, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee two months ago. He had no problems in his four-inning outing: with his command, his health or his effectiveness. He threw 44 pitches and struck out four.
The Grizzlies beat the Sidewinders 5-4 in 11 innings.
It took him just three pitches to retire the side in the third inning on two flyouts and a groundout.
"It brings a big-league atmosphere to a minor-league game," Sidewinders pitching coach Mike Parrott said before the game. "I'm looking forward to being a fan for three innings."
The main health concerns for Johnson going into Saturday were how his knee would hold up in a game situation and whether he would feel any pain afterward.
The true test, Johnson said, will come in the next few days.
"There's always the chance of it swelling," he said.
The tentative plan is for Johnson to make two more starts with Tucson and join the Diamondbacks after the All-Star break, July 14-16.
In his only at-bat, Johnson hit an infield chopper and halfheartedly jogged toward first base as the Grizzlies turned a double play.
"I don't wanna take any chances and hurt myself with the knee," he said. "Hopefully. the fans will understand that. The people who came to see me came to see me pitch, not because they wanted to watch my at-bat."
All told, Johnson spent about six hours in Fresno. But he insisted he enjoyed the experience; indeed, he stayed in the dugout to watch a few innings after he reached his pitch count.
"It was a lot of fun coming to Triple-A," he said. "The facilities here are incredible."
But as his rehabilitation continues, Johnson said the intensity will pick up.
"Once I get closer to a major-league start, it will be more intense than it was here," he said.
The Sidewinders play on the road until opening a four-game series with Edmonton at Tucson Electric Park on July 17.
