Friday, May 17, 2002
Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2
The Associated Press
PHOENIX — Randy Johnson gave up a home run to Jimmy Rollins on the game's first pitch, then turned up the heat for the next six innings to earn his seventh victory of the season as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the road-ravaged Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night.
“I battled. I had to pitch out there,” Johnson (7-1) said. “I didn't have my best fastball, my best location, my best slider, but I made the pitches when I had to.”
It was his first victory in three outings since a sore lower back caused him to miss a scheduled start for the first time in nearly two years.
“It just tells you what kind of a pitcher he is,” Phillies manager Bowa said. “He's a warrior. I don't think he had his great stuff, but when he had to reach back, he did exactly what a great pitcher does.”
After an 8-1 homestand, the Phillies fell to 0-4 on their road trip and 3-16 away from home overall.
Erubiel Durazo, in his first game of the season after being activated from the disabled list, struck out in his first three at-bats, then doubled home a run in Arizona's three-run seventh inning.
Rheal Cormier, the fifth of six Philadelphia pitchers, walked Junior Spivey on four pitches with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh to put the Diamondbacks up 2-1. Luis Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
Damian Miller led off the seventh with a single off Jose Santiago (1-2), and Tony Womack, who singled in the tying run in the fifth, walked. Cormier relieved Santiago, and pinch-hitter Rod Barajas' sacrifice bunt failed to advance the runner to third.
But Mike Lieberthal was called for catcher's interference on Craig Counsell's grounder to load the bases.
Johnson, who threw 120 pitches, struck out Lieberthal with the bases loaded to end the third and did the same to pinch-hitter Jason Michaels with runners at second and third to escape the sixth.
“It seems like right now he's kind of saving that 97 mph fastball for when he needs it,” Lieberthal said.
After Travis Lee doubled off Arizona reliever Mike Myers to put runners on second and third with one out in eighth, Byung-Hyun Kim came on and gave up an RBI single to Pat Burrell to cut the lead to 4-2. Marlon Anderson grounded into a double play to end the inning.
When Kim came out for the ninth, his right sleeve had been cut off because he felt too warm. The umpires made him cut off the other sleeve, too, so they would be the same length.
Kim finished for his 11th save in 12 opportunities. His 45th career save set a franchise record, which he said was no big deal.
“On another team, that would be the record for one season,” Kim said through an interpreter.
The Phillies have scored eight runs in four games on the road trip, with three to play — all against the Diamondbacks.
“We hit balls hard tonight,” Lieberthal said. “We hit a lot of at 'em balls. We're swinging the bat well. It just seems like we're not getting breaks.”
It was the second time in five days that Johnson and Phillies starter David Coggin have faced each other. Neither got a decision in Arizona's 6-5, 10-inning victory in Philadelphia last Saturday.
Coggin, still looking for his first victory of the season, allowed a run on three hits in five innings before being lifted for Michaels. He struck out five and walked two.
Notes: Johnson needs three strikeouts to reach 3,500 and nine to tie Walter Johnson for eighth on the career list. ... Lee's double in the eighth was the first hit by a left-hander off Myers this season — in 25 at-bats. ... The Phillies have lost five road games in a row.
Reds Stories
Bengals cross fingers, bet on Brewer
Bengals Notebook: Schobel, Manuel debut at practice
Proposal to ease transfer rules draws boos
Record year for track stars
High School Track Notebook
High School Softball Notebook
New Harrison gym may be Tristate's largest
Today's high school schedules
Cincinnati high school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
Notre Dame wins 7th straight tennis regional
Beechwood's Rassell wins boys singles crown
N.Ky. high school results
NKU loses NCAA regional baseball opener
Coming up this week
• Return to Reds front page...
Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2 
