NEW YORK, 22 April 2006 — Nick Johnson belted a pair of home runs in leading the Washington Nationals to a 10-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, giving manager Frank Robinson his 1,000th career victory.
The Nationals struck early, scoring five runs in the first inning and adding four more in the second, to take a commanding 9-2 lead before cruising to their fourth win in five games.
With the victory, the 70-year-old Robinson became the 53rd manager to reach 1,000 wins, adding the milestone to a half-century of records and awards that began in 1956 when he was named NL rookie of the year.
“It feels good, because it was a win and this ball club is starting to play good baseball,” Robinson told MLB.com.
“We are going home after taking another series, the second series in a row.
“One thousand wins is a 1,000 wins. It means you have been around a while and you had some pretty good ball clubs and you won a few games.” Washington starter Billy Traber (1-0), making his first major league start since 2003, benefited from the early support.
Traber, who sat out all of the 2004 season after undergoing elbow surgery, allowed four runs — three earned — on just two hits while striking out three and walking four over 5 2/3 innings of work. Phillies starter Ryan Madson (1-1) took the loss, rocked for seven run on nine hits before being chased from the contest in the second inning.
Ryan Zimmerman stroked a bases loaded double scoring Alfonso Soriano and Johnson to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead while Traber helped his own cause with an RBI single to cap the five run first. Johnson, who went 4-for-4 at the plate, then keyed the four-run second with two-run blast to right center.
In San Diego, Julio Franco became the oldest player to hit a home run in major league history in triggering a six-run eighth inning uprising as the New York Mets rallied past the Padres 7-2.
Trailing 2-1, the Mets 47-year-old pinch-hitter connected on a 1-0 offering from Scott Linebrink (1-2) and drove into the right field bleachers, bringing home Xavier Nady to nose New York in front 3-2.
In Milwaukee, Brandon Phillips belted a pair of homers, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs to power the Cincinnati Reds to 12-8 win over the Brewers. Edwin Encarnacion also homered, had three RBI and scored three runs helping the Reds to their third win in four games.
Gomes Homers Twice as Devil Rays Sting BoSox
Jonny Gomes belted two home runs to help the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1 at Fenway Park on Thursday, while Scott Kazmir dominated on the mound until he was forced from the game with cramp.
Kazmir (2-1) held the Red Sox to one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and a walk before being withdrawn after 5 2/3 suffering from cramping to his left thumb. The Devil Rays bullpen, however, did not waste the left-hander’s fine effort, Travis Harper tossing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with Dan Miceli coming on in the ninth to get the final two outs to nail down the win and his fourth save.Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (1-3) delivered eight solid innings for the Red Sox, but still absorbed the loss giving up three runs — two earned — on four hits.
In Baltimore, Javy Lopez had a two-run homer and Miguel Tejada added a solo shot and drove in three runs as the Orioles dumped the Cleveland Indians 9-4 to register their fifth win in seven games. Erik Bedard (4-0) provided the Orioles with six solid innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on six hits over six innings to collect his fourth win in as many starts.
In Oakland, Curtis Granderson drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the ninth inning to force in Carlos Guillen with the go-ahead run as the Detroit Tigers rallied to edge Athletics 4-3.
