Johnson Mows Down 16 In Mariners’ Win

Randy Johnson struck out 16, matching the most in the majors this season, and pitched a three-hitter Saturday night as the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0.

The 16 strikeouts tied Hideo Nomo’s performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh June 14. Johnson and Nomo were the opposing starters in the All-Star Game Tuesday night.

Johnson (10-1) leads the majors with 168 strikeouts. He walked two in his second shutout of the year and 14th of his career.

Johnson made his second-half debut at the right time for Seattle. The Mariners lost the first two games of the Toronto series to dip to a season-low three games under .500.

The left-hander won his fourth in a row, and pitched his fourth complete game of the season.

In the sixth, Johnson delighted the Kingdome crowd of 36,037 when he got Joe Carter to foul out to end the inning with the bases loaded. Johnson loaded the bases on Domingo Cedeno’s second infield single and two walks.

Johnson came back to strike out the side in the seventh and eighth innings. He did not fan a batter in the ninth.

Pat Hentgen (6-7) walked nine, tying a club record held by three other pitchers.

The Mariners opened the game with singles by Joey Cora and Luis Sojo and a double by Edgar Martinez for a 1-0 lead.

They added two runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Mike Blowers and pinch-hitter Doug Strange.

Notes

Johnson has broken a four-game losing streak, two three-game skids and three two-game droughts this year… . Johnson got outstanding support in center field from Alex Diaz, Ken Griffey Jr.’s replacement, in the fifth inning. With Ed Sprague on first after a single, Candy Maldonado hit a sinking line drive that Diaz turned into a double play. Diaz made a diving catch, got up and threw Sprague out before he could get back to first… . Strange is 7-for-13 with four RBIs as a pinch-hitter. . . . Hentgen’s nine walks in a game tied a Toronto record set by Jesse Jefferson June 18, 1977, and tied by Jim Clancy Aug. 30, 1984, and Tom Candiotti.

Proving that he is still No. 1 in Mariners fans hearts, a huge crowd showed up for Griffey T-shirt night Saturday.

There were as many fans in the stands watching batting practice an hour and a half before the game as there have been for the first pitch of most recent games.

Saturday was also Griffey’s first day of aggressive rehabilitation on his injuried wrist. He will be able to taking batting practice in 10-14 days.

Tino Martinez has made the greatest strides this season if his numbers were doubled to show the length of the entire season, he would have 36 home runs and 116 RBI.

His career highs are 20 HRs and 66 RBI. If he can indeed continue to drive in runs at the same pace, he would tie the club record. Alvin Davis plated 116 in winning rookie of the year honors in 1984.