"NEITHER RAIN NOR a near-empty stadium (nor a league-worst Washington Nationals team vs. the Giants' iffy bullpen) prevented Giants pitcher Randy Johnson from winning his 300th career game Thursday.

The conditions were terribly sad for a significant milestone. But Johnson, a Livermore High School Cowboy, blocked out the elements in six impressive innings of work. He exited with a 2-1 lead, and the Giants used a three-run rally in the ninth to cushion their (Johnson's) 5-1 triumph.

Take a moment and appreciate this pitching milestone, especially because hitting milestones (see: 763 home runs, 3,000 hits) won't be as regaled because of the steroid-era's effect.

Great scene (via Comcast SportsNet) of the 6-foot-10 Johnson lurching down to hug his teammates in a reception line after the victory, which came a day after Wednesday's scheduled start got rained out.

An "exhausted" and subdued Johnson told Mike Krukow on the post-game broadcast: "It's nice to get the win, nice to have this moment with my family and friends that came, and my teammates. ... One word that would sum it up was persevere. I battled with mechanics early in my career and injuries later in my career. A game like this means a lot."

He allowed no earned runs, two hits, two walks and struck out two. Yes, deuces were wild Thursday, but not Johnson, who harnessed control problems as a prepster and evolved into only the 24th pitcher to hit the 300-win plateau.

Johnson

took a no-hitter into the fifth and a shutout into the sixth, where he allowed a RBI double after an Edgar Renteria error. But the Giants led 2-1 when Johnson exited, and it was up to the hold-your-breath bullpen.

Sure enough, Johnson's 300th walked the plank in the bottom of the eighth, when the Nationals loaded the bases against Giants relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Brian Wilson. Adam Dunn struck out looking to end the rally."