Johnson Sets Sights On Loftier Exploits

Even Nolan Ryan, the game’s greatest power pitcher with 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters, didn’t accomplish what Randy Johnson did.

Even Roger Clemens, with a record 20 strikeouts in a game twice in his career, didn’t do what the Seattle Mariners’ 33-year-old left-hander did.

Johnson, in his 24th start since coming off back surgery, had 19 strikeouts for the second time this season on Friday night - and the Mariners won this time.

Once again, he tied the record for the most strikeouts in a game by a left-hander, set by Steve Carlton for St. Louis in 1969.

“I do think about my back,” Johnson said after his 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. “Even though I struck out the guys I did tonight and it was a good game, I always have to worry about my back.”

Ray Durham, who had one of five singles off Johnson, tried to put the 1995 A.L. Cy Young Award winner’s devastating performance in perspective.

“Basically with him, I just look for one pitch - his fastball,” Durham said. “If he’s getting his slider over, I’m out anyway.”

Frank Thomas of the White Sox, the American League’s leading hitter who struck out his first three times before walking in the eighth inning, put it another way.

“It was a real comfortable o-fer tonight,” he said.

In getting his 17th career shutout and second of the season, Johnson allowed only five balls to be hit out of the infield. Two of the hits off him were infield singles. He walked three in improving to 16-3.

Johnson’s first 19-strikeout performance was one of his three defeats. Oakland beat him 4-1 June 24 in Seattle when he allowed 11 hits, including Mark McGwire’s 538-foot home run - McGwire’s longest career home run and the longest ever hit in the Kindgome.

He’s also had games when he’s struck out 16, 115 twice and 14 this season. He leads the majors with 243 strikeouts.

Just when manager Lou Piniella thought he’s seen Johnson at his gest, Johnson was better.

“This is as good as I’ve seen him throw, without question,” Piniella said. “You can’t throw any better than he did tonight.”

Oh, yeah?

Johnson wants to became the first Seattle pitcher to win 20 games in a season, and he wants to help the Mariners get into their first World Series. He also would like to greak Clemen’s 20-strikeout record that he set for Boston in 1986 and tied for the Red Sox last season.

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