Johnson Hangs On In 8-6 Win M’S Score Fast, But Brewers Storm Back To Make It Close
The Seattle Mariners got five perfectly pitched innings from Randy Johnson and scored eight runs in the first four innings Tuesday. Still, manager Lou Piniella had reason to be frustrated.
The Mariners performance was rooted in Jekyll and Hyde spurts but was good enough for an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Seattle scored seven runs on 10 hits in just the third and fourth innings. When not galloping around the bases, the Mariners and the 13,427 in attendance were wondering if this could be the night Randy Johnson threw his second no-hitter.
Johnson’s aura disappeared quickly though as Milwaukee tried to erase an 8-0 deficit. Finally, Bobby Ayala eased the tension by striking out Fernando Vina to end the game and earn his 15th save.
“I think Randy relaxed a little bit when he got that big lead,” Piniella said. “He hasn’t had many easy games this year. This was probably as easy a game with an 8-0 lead that he’s pitched. That’s the game of baseball. It shows you what can happen when you relax a little.”
Johnson was able to make it through seven innings with the help of his offense to earn his 11th win.
After leaving eight runners on base in the Mariners’ 6-4 loss Monday night, Alex Rodriguez did his part early Tuesday. With Tino Martinez on second in the first inning, Rodriguez sliced a ball into the right field corner. He sprinted around to third when Matt Mieske bobbled the carom. In the fourth, Rodriguez pulled a pitch inside the right field line. This time, the ball bounced away from David Hulse in left and Rodriguez raced to third for a triple. The hit scored Tino Martinez, who had walked for a 3-0 lead.
In between Rodriguez’s 270-foot sprints, Luis Sojo made it 2-0 when he slugged a fastball over the left field wall. The blast would have scored two, but Rich Amaral was picked off first base two pitches before. Replays showed Amaral was clearly safe as the tag was late and high up on the arm when Amaral dove in. Seattle had four hits in the inning but just the one run.
The fourth inning outburst against Brewers starter Scott Karl continued when Dan Wilson made it 4-0 by scoring Rodriguez with a single.
“We had some good hitting in the early part of the ballgame; took advantage of some big opportunities and held on,” Piniella said.
The hits kept coming as Alex Diaz singled and Amaral beat out a bunt to load the bases. Sojo didn’t leave the runners on long. He doubled down the right field line scoring all three and Seattle led 7-0.
It was Sojo’s first game back since fouling two pitches from Karl off his foot last week in Milwaukee. This time he had Karl figured out.
“He threw me the same pitch today. I was ready for it this time and I hit the ball good,” Sojo said.
Six consecutive batters reached base before Edgar Martinez struck out. Karl intentionally walked Jay Buhner to face Mike Blowers with the double play in order.
Blowers continued the hit parade though, driving in Sojo with a double. Buhner was out at the plate on the play trying to score from first on the shot to left-center.
The long inning may have effected Johnson. He was perfect setting down the first 12 hitters, but the top of the fifth was the opposite.
Johnson’s perfection ended when Greg Vaughn hit a 3-1 pitch to left field to lead off the fifth. Before the inning ended, the Brewers had four runs, just two earned.
“It’s unbelievable they scored six off of Randy,” Sojo said. “Every time he pitches, we expect him to throw a shutout. The good thing was we held on to win the ball game.”
Griffey watch
Ken Griffey Jr. took full swings in the batting cage Tuesday. Griffey wasn’t swinging with 100 percent bat speed, but did drive a couple of pitches off the wall and one into the right field seats. In a pre-game radio show, Piniella mentioned Aug. 21 as the target date for Griffey’s return.
MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition