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Giants' Molina spoils Johnson's return for Diamondbacks

Apr 15, 2008 - 7:18 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Randy Johnson's return to the mound was solid, but it wasn't enough to help his team return to their winning ways.

Bengie Molina's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Johnson, who made his first start for the Diamondbacks since June 28, 2007 after undergoing his second major back surgery last season, allowed three hits and three unearned runs in five innings.

"I've got a lot of room for improvement, but considering the situation I know that things will get a lot better," Johnson said. "I felt like I was kind of battling out there and finding myself behind in the count.

"Obviously with the outcome, it's kind of disappointing. I felt like if the game's pitched a little bit better by myself early in the game the outcome probably isn't what it is."

The 44-year-old lefthander struggled with his control, walking four, but also showed flashes of brilliance by striking out seven for Arizona, which suffered its second straight setback after an eight-game win streak.

"When I was in a situation to be able to put a hitter away, I was able to do that," Johnson said. "The first couple innings the problem was finding myself in that situation. I was always pitching behind in the count, and that's typically not what I do."

Keiichi Yabu (1-0) pitched two innings in relief to pick up his first win since May 20, 2005, while Brian Wilson walked one and struck out one in the ninth inning to register his fourth save of the season for the Giants.

Yabu also became the first Japanese pitcher to post a win for San Francisco since Masanori Murakami on September 30, 1965. Murakami was the first Japanese player in the majors and pitched for the Giants from 1964-65.

"I want the starting pitchers to win," Yabu said through an interpreter. "I was glad to win and he knows Mr. Murakami so he's honored about the win and also being a reliever like him."

Trailing by one run in the seventh, the Giants took the lead after Chad Qualls (0-1) relieved Juan Cruz to begin the inning.

Eugenio Velez pinch-hit for Yabu and opened the frame with an infield single and advanced to third on a fielding error by shortstop Stephen Drew, which allowed Randy Winn to reach base.

After Aaron Rowand walked to load the bases, Ray Durham grounded into a fielder's choice, plating Velez from third to tie the score, 4-4, before Molina drove in the go-ahead run with a sac-fly.

"That's how we lost tonight, we kicked it around," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "We didn't make the plays when we had to and when you play defensively like we did tonight and its a close game, it'll cost you and it cost us tonight."

The Diamondbacks wasted no time seizing control of the game in the first inning as Conor Jackson hit a two-run home run off Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez.

San Francisco responded with three runs in the bottom of the second before Arizona claimed a 4-3 lead with a pair of runs in the third.

"They're all big (wins) at this point," said Winn, who drove in two runs with a single in the third. "Especially when you're playing teams in your division, we're going to play them a lot. So, we want to get off on the right foot, and it's nice to get the first win of the series and hopefully we can get one (on Tuesday)."