Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
No. 5: Josh Johnson’s dominance in ‘Year of the Pitcher’
Year: 2010 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim Result: NL3,AL1 Notable: Josh Johnson, who came into the game leading the majors in ERA, allowed nada in what would be his only All-Star appearance, retiring all six batters he faced including back-to-back strikeouts of Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter.
How it happened: There was a fair amount of sentiment that Johnson should have been the NL starter. His dominance stood out in what became known as the “Year of the Pitcher.” But the nod went to Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez, who with a 15-1 record (2.20 ERA) was the first pitcher in a decade with 15 wins at the All-Star break. Johnson had no qualms about the choice, saying, “I said Jimenez from the beginning. He was my pick.” He then went out and outpitched Jimenez, who allowed two hits and a walk but no runs in the first two innings as the NL sought to end 13 years of All-Star futility. Routinely hitting 98 mph on the radar gun, Johnson ripped through some of the top hitters in the game in the third and fourth innings. He mowed down Ichiro and Jeter to end the third. In the fourth, he got former Marlin Miguel Cabrera on a grounder to third, then retired Josh Hamilton thanks to a spectacular diving catch by former University of Miami star Ryan Braun. Johnson closed out his night by coaxing a liner to first from Vladimir Guerrero. He threw 29 pitches, 18 for strikes. Johnson would finish 2010 with the lowest ERA in the NL at 2.30, second-best in the majors. But the oft-injured right-hander was limited to 10 starts in the second half and recorded only two wins after the break before back pain ended his season Sept. 4.