Friday, August 16, 2002
Ailing Johnson keeps D'backs rolling
By Joe Kay
AP Sports Writer
The way Randy Johnson sees it, a Diamondbacks starter doesn't have to do all that much to get a win these days. Dominate hitters? Nice, but not necessary.
A subpar Big Unit gave up two hits in eight innings, striking out 11, and Arizona stayed on the crest of its second-half wave by beating the Reds 7-2 Thursday night.
“If you go seven innings on this team right now, for the most part, it means you're going to win,” said Johnson (18-4), who has won his last five starts.
He's right. The defending World Series champs have won 19 of their last 23 games, opening an eight-game lead in the NL West. Their starters have pitched into the seventh inning 20 times during their surge, making things easy on everyone else.
“As a team, we're not going to go through long losing streaks,” Johnson said. “Our rotation won't allow us to do that. The way we're swinging the bats now, it's fun to be pitching on this team.”
“This is the time of year you've got to smell the blood,” said Finley, who has four homers in his last five games. “We don't let up on you. This is the time of year that you can't let games slip away for lack of intensity.”
There was some question whether Johnson would be able to pitch Thursday. He went back to the team hotel the previous night, feeling horrible.
“I had a bad headache, no life,” Johnson said. “I felt a lot better this morning. I was just kind of drained. The weather had a lot to do with it, too. It kind of zaps the energy out of you.”
He didn't look like a sickly pitcher.
Johnson gave up rookie Brandon Larson's fourth homer in the second inning and Sean Casey's infield single in the seventh, when the Reds loaded the bases. Johnson hit Larson on the foot with a slider, forcing in a run, then struck out the next two.
“Just another amazing performance,” Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. “He was a little under the weather and not on top of his game, and he was able to go out and pretty much dominate.”
Johnson has struck out at least 10 batters 12 times this season, and 183 times in his career. His best strikeout game came the last time he faced the Reds — he tied the major league record by fanning 20 in nine innings on May 8, 2001.
His five-game winning streak has lowered his ERA to 2.55, second-best in the NL behind Greg Maddux (2.51).
“That guy's good,” said Adam Dunn, who lobbied to play against Johnson and was 0-for-3 with a strikeout. “The thing about him is that he pitches. He's not just out there throwing. He keeps you off-balance and he uses his slider.”
Notes: Ken Griffey Jr. struck out in his two at-bats against Johnson, then left the game as a precaution with a sore left hip. Griffey is 0-for-5 career against Johnson with three strikeouts. ... A torn tendon in his right knee and a pulled right hamstring have limited Griffey to 37 starts this season. ... Johnson's 18 wins are second only to teammate Curt Schilling's 19 in the majors. He threw 124 pitches on a humid, 87-degree night. ... The Diamondbacks have won their last eight against the Reds. ... Arizona OF Luis Gonzalez, who left the series opener with a strained ribcage, missed a second straight game.
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Ailing Johnson keeps D'backs rolling
