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

M’S Show Yanks Talk Is Cheap Johnson Shines In Rematch With Leyritz As Seattle Edges Struggling New York

Ben Walker Associated Press

The rematch between Randy Johnson and Jim Leyritz turned out to be nothing but a lot of tough talk.

The Yankees had promised revenge after Johnson hit Leyritz with an up-and-in pitch last week. Instead, there was no hard hitting at all - either with bats or fists - as the Seattle Mariners sent New York to its 15th loss in 18 games, 3-2 Saturday.

“It was one of those things where a lot of things were said in the heat of the moment,” Leyritz said.

Johnson, who declined any comment after the game, struck out 12 in seven innings, including Leyritz twice. He was gone by the time the Mariners evened it in the eighth and went ahead with two outs in the ninth on pinch-hitter Chad Kreuter’s bloop single off John Wetteland.

“I’m glad we tied the ballgame for him because he really wanted to win this game,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said.

The no-decision left Johnson with a 6-0 record, a 1.91 ERA and a major league-leading 94 strikeouts. The Mariners, meanwhile, have won all 10 games he’s started this season, and are 5-0 overall against New York.

A week ago Wednesday, Johnson hit Leyritz with a 96 mph fastball. The pitch glanced off Leyritz’s left wrist and deflected into his cheek, triggering a bench-clearing incident. After that game, Leyritz vowed, “We’ll take care of him, one way or the other.” Johnson answered back, “I think he’s been watching too many Hoffa movies or something.”

Johnson, booed when he took the mound, had trouble finding his rhythm early, walking Leyritz and two others in the first inning. An RBI grounder by Danny Tartabull and an infield single by Gerald Williams made it 2-0.

After that, Johnson dominated. He allowed few hard-hit balls, walked one more and never came close to hitting anyone.

Johnson gave up five hits and threw 141 pitches. He struck out 10 or more for the fifth time this year, and the 55th time in his career.

Leyritz, meanwhile, had a hard day at the plate and catching behind it. He fanned three times, once in the ninth with runners on first and second and one out.

He also had two passed balls, and two Seattle runners stole bases that set up the tying and go-ahead runs.

Leyritz said he and Johnson did not talk on the field during the game. Johnson also did not come near Leyritz with any of his fastballs.

“He was staying away with his pitches early in the game,” Leyritz said. “You’d have to ask him whether what happened before had anything to do with it.”

With the score tied in the Seattle ninth, Dan Wilson singled with two outs off Steve Howe (1-2). Wetteland relieved and, after pinch-runner Joey Cora stole second, Kreuter batted for Alex Rodriguez and blooped a single just beyond the dive of shortstop Derek Jeter.

“When I hit it, I knew it was going to be a tough play,” Kreuter said. “I had my questions when (Jeter) started reaching for it.”

Jeff Nelson (3-0) was the winner and Bobby Ayala earned his ninth save. Ayala struck out Leyritz and Mike Stanley with runners on first and second to end it.

The Mariners closed to 2-1 in the seventh against Sterling Hitchcock on singles by Greg Pirkl and Felix Fermin and a double-play grounder by Wilson. Bob Wickman relieved to start the eighth, and Seattle scored a run to tie it.

Alex Diaz dragged a bunt single with one out, stole second and continued to third on Leyritz’s throwing error. Edgar Martinez followed with a tapper in front of the mound that Wickman fielded cleanly, but the reliever was indecisive before eventually throwing too late to the plate to get Diaz.

“It’s all my fault on that play,” Wickman said. “If I’d just wheeled and fired it, I think we would’ve had him.”

Notes

Broadway actor Adrian Zmed sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch and was booed the whole way, for no apparent reason. He smiled, though, and seemed to take the razzing in good spirits… . Kreuter is 4 for 5 as a pinch-hitter. He is the son-in-law of Southern Cal coach Mike Gillespie, whose team lost to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday in the College World Series championship game. Johnson, by the way, pitched at Southern Cal.