Johnson Hangs On For 8-6 Win M’S Score Fast, But Brewers Storm Back To Make It Close

Randy Johnson almost blew an eight-run lead, but held on to become baseball’s third 11-game winner Tuesday night as the Seattle Mariners beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6.

Johnson (11-1) won his fifth straight game despite faltering in the fifth and seventh innings. He struck out nine to improve his total to 185, most in the majors.

The Mariners staked their ace left-hander to an 8-0 lead in the first four innings, chasing Scott Karl (1-1). Luis Sojo, who hit his third homer of the year in the third, had a three-run double in the fourth. Alex Rodriguez tripled in a run and Dan Wilson and Mike Blowers had RBI singles.

Johnson didn’t give up a hit in the first four innings, but lost his concentration after the Mariners’ long fourth. He surrendered three hits in the fifth, including a three-run homer to Matt Mieske, his seventh, and Pat Listach’s RBI double.

In the seventh, Johnson’s final inning, David Hulse had an RBI triple and Listach doubled in a run for the Brewers.

Bobby Ayala, Seattle’s closer, got five outs after replacing Bill Risley with one out in the eighth. It was Ayala’s 15th save.

Notes

Kevin Appier of Kansas City and Mike Mussina of Baltimore are the other 11-game winners in the majors this year. … Hulse’s triple in the seventh was the first extra-base hit and the fourth hit in 43 at-bats (.093) by a left-handed batter against Johnson in 1995. Johnson’s lone defeat came June 16 to Minnesota by a 10-1 score in a game in which he gave up eight runs on nine hits and four walks in six innings. … Rodriguez, Seattle’s 19-year-old rookie shortstop, collected his first major-league triple. … Mieske hit his second homer of Milwaukee’s current road trip.

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