SPEAK OF THE DEVIL:

Randy Johnson just threw a perfect game against the Braves. Smarty Jones is officially a lock for the Triple Crown.

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Perfect form: Arizona's Johnson is oldest, at 40, to perform feat (Paul Newberry, May 19, 2004 , Associated Press)

Arizona's Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, retiring all 27 hitters to lead the Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves, 2-0, last night.

The 40-year-old lefthander struck out 13 and went to three balls on just one hitter -- Johnny Estrada in the second inning. Estrada fouled off three straight full-count pitches before going down swinging.

"A game like this was pretty special," the five-time Cy Young Award winner said. "It doesn't come along very often."

It was the 17th perfect game in major league history, the 15th since the modern era began in 1900, and the first since the New York Yankees' David Cone against Montreal on July 18, 1999.

Cy Young had been the oldest to throw a perfect game, doing it in 1904 at age 37.

It was the second no-hitter of Johnson's career. The other was for Seattle against Detroit on June 2, 1990.

Appropriately, Johnson struck out the final batter, pinch hitter Eddie Perez. The Big Unit pumped his fist and raised his glove in the air. Catcher Robby Hammock arrived at the mound with the ball, giving his pitcher a big hug. Within seconds, he was mobbed by the rest of his teammates.

He became only the fifth pitcher to throw no-hitters in both the National and American leagues, joining Young, Jim Bunning, Hideo Nomo, and Nolan Ryan.