Randy Johnson goes for 300th win Wednesday

The 45-year-old left-hander gets his first shot at the milestone for pitchers against the Washington Nationals.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mere mention of the milestone causes Randy Johnson to recoil.

“I’m not going to talk about this stuff. OK, I got to go,” he said the other day, quickly leaving his locker and heading to the field. “I get distracted. I just try not to talk at all.”

So that’s how it’s going to be as the Big Unit prepares for his first try at 300 wins Wednesday night at Washington.

At 45, the San Francisco lefty owns a World Series ring and co-MVP honors, five Cy Young awards and is a 10-time All-Star selection. He’s thrown two no-hitters, including a perfect game, and ranks second on the career strikeout list.

Some of his best seasons have come in his later years — he’s won more games in his 40s than he did in his 20s.

The tallest player in the majors when he debuted with the long-gone Expos more than two decades ago, Johnson grew into more than oddity. He harnessed his 6-foot-10 frame, refined his blazing fastball and wicked slider and came to symbolize what power pitching is all about.

“If he has control of his stuff, he’s going to win a lot of ball games,” Montreal manager Buck Rodgers predicted after Johnson’s second appearance in the big leagues.

Still capable of dominating with the Giants, he’s on the verge of a plateau that many in baseball believe will never again be reached.

Next up on the win list is 46-year-old Jamie Moyer (250), followed by 36-year-old Andy Pettitte (220). At 32, Roy Halladay isn’t even halfway there (139).

“With the way pitching is being used nowadays, I think it probably lessens the chance of it,” said Nolan Ryan, among the 23 aces to achieve the mark. “Whether they start using starters differently because pitching is at such a premium, I don’t know.”

Some thought Greg Maddux might have been the last to the milestone in 2004. But then Tom Glavine reached 300 two years ago.

Johnson has put himself in position by overcoming back problems that threatened to end his career. He’s 4-4 with a 5.71 ERA in his first two months with the Giants.

“This is a milestone, but he has said he didn’t come here to just win five games,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He wants to reach it but he wants to get it behind him, too.”

Many of the Giants will tour the White House before the game Wednesday. Johnson wasn’t planning to join them, certainly opting to prepare for his start.

“I’ve already been there,” he said.

Johnson takes great pride in the fact he worked tirelessly to return from two back operations in recent years while with Arizona.

“He’s not just some genetic freak who comes up every five days. He works,” St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “Whenever you were within two or three weeks of playing him, you started counting the days hoping you missed him.”

Johnson probably figured he’d be doing this for the Diamondbacks, but the sides failed to reach an agreement last winter. He instead signed an $8 million, one-year contract with San Francisco in late December to pitch in his native Bay Area, then five victories shy of 300.

“There are only a handful of guys that have pitched this game that make the opposing manager alter his lineup,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre, Johnson’s former skipper with the New York Yankees. “Even your guys that play every day, left-handers that would play every game against left-handers, you wouldn’t do it against Randy Johnson.”

Johnson would be the sixth lefty in major league history with 300.

Catcher Bengie Molina can’t wait. He already helped celebrate home run king Barry Bonds’ 756th homer in August 2007 that moved the slugger past Hank Aaron.

“A 300-game winner, we might not see it again,” Molina said. “I hope Randy understands how much it means to us. We appreciate every effort.”