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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Johnson Escapes Big Jam To Leave Angels In The Soup Mariners Put A Halt To Their Short Skid By Knocking Off California 3-2

Associated Press

Randy Johnson was intent on breaking Seattle’s mini losing streak Sunday night. Instead, he nearly broke one of baseball’s cardinal rules.

“There are some big don’ts in this game, and one of the biggest is not to let the other team score after yours does,” Johnson said in reconstructing the roughest moment of his 3-2 victory over California.

A few minutes after the Mariners had given him a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth, Johnson found himself surrounded by three runners without an out in the bottom of the inning.

“It all happened so fast. I definitely gave them a big opportunity to score,” said Johnson.

He just as quickly reneged on that opportunity. Tony Phillips’ grounder back to the mound became a force play at home and Damion Easley popped out before Johnson ended the threat with a trademark strikeout of Rex Hudler.

“He’s one of the few pitchers in baseball who can get out of that situation,” said Seattle manager Lou Piniella. “It’s one of the things that makes him a great pitcher: He doesn’t give up many big innings.”

Gary DiSarcina, Johnson’s chief pest with two doubles and a bunt single that loaded the bases, sensed the Angels had wasted their biggest hope.

“You’ve got to capitalize on every mistake he makes, because he doesn’t make many,” DiSarcina said. “But he made the pitches to get the outs he needed.”

Tino Martinez hit a two-run homer and Johnson got his fifth straight victory over California. The victory salvaged the final game of the three-game series for the Mariners.

Johnson (2-0) pitched a six-hitter for seven innings, striking out nine and walking two. He ran his career record against the Angels to 8-4.

Bobby Ayala worked the last two innings for his third save, but yielded a home run to J.T. Snow in the ninth.

The Angels’ Chuck Finley (0-3) matched Johnson until he become involved in a hazardous play following Edgar Martinez’s leadoff double in the fifth. First baseman Snow fielded Mike Blowers’ grounder, but his toss to first eluded Finley, who rolled over Blowers as both wound up on the ground.

Edgar Martinez scored and Blowers advanced to second on an error charged to Finley, who was not injured. Tino Martinez, the next batter, homered over the right-field fence for a 3-0 lead.