On August 26, 1999 — Achieving the mark in his 29th start, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson reaches the 300-strikeout milestone in record time. The ‘Big Unit’ whiffs nine in seven innings in a 12-2 victory over the Marlins.
The Pirates are not big base-stealers, but aggressive baserunning is their stock in trade, as evidenced by today’s 10-inning, come-from-behind, walk-off win over Los Angeles, wherein Joe Christopher and Roberto Clemente combine to, in effect, steal the game. Los Angeles Times beat writer Frank Finch relates: “Christopher tied the score by racing in [from second] on Clemente’s infield single. Maury Wills fielded the bouncer and pegged to Gil Hodges. Clemente was safe by inches, and Christopher slid in a fraction of a second before Hodges’ peg to the plate arrived. Hitless in three previous trips and the target of boo-birds, Dick Stuart sliced a lazy fly ball down the right-field line. Clemente, of course, was off and running at the crack of the bat. Frank Howard lumbered over to pick up the ball, hesitated before throwing, and then fired wildly between third base and home as Clemente scored standing up. An accurate throw might have nailed the mercurial Puerto Rican, but the Pirates aren’t about to play this one over.”
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July 1, 1960
