Big Unit Can’t Make A Big Difference Indians Beat Mariners 4-3 Despite Return Of Randy Johnson

Randy Johnson felt like he was never going to get back on the mound for the Seattle Mariners.

It finally happened on Tuesday night - in a 4-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

“It was going on four months,” Johnson said after pitching two scoreless innings in relief. “The last three months have been very difficult for me. It felt like I was on the outside looking in.”

Johnson entered the game too late to make a difference because the Indians had a 4-1 lead against Bob Wells (11-4).

Johnson, last season’s A.L. Cy Young Award winner, was activated Tuesday from the 60-day disabled list after missing 73 games because of a bulging disc in his back. Manager Lou Piniella put him temporarily in the bullpen until he’s ready to start again.

“There were times when I got really upset and frustrated,” Johnson said. “But I still came to the ballpark because I felt there was light at the end of the tunnel sometime.”

Johnson came into the game at the start of the sixth and struck out four in his two innings. It was his first appearance since May 12 and his first regular-season relief appearance since Aug. 16, 1993.

“I felt pleased,” he said. “I still have a long way to go, but if I can pitch like I did tonight it’s a positive step forward to eventually getting back in the rotation.”

Piniella was happy with Johnson’s return on a night Texas won to go two games in front in the A.L. West.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and go from there,” Piniella said. “When he’s ready, we’ll put him in the rotation.”

The Indians, who beat the Mariners in the A.L. championship series last fall, said Johnson hadn’t lost anything off the fastball that allowed him to be the majors’ strikeout leader the past four seasons.

“He had a lot of days rest,” Omar Vizquel said. “He was throwing a really hard fastball. It was hard to catch up with.”

Albie Lopez (2-3) went 6-1/3 innings and got the victory, thanks to the Indians’ big fifth. They batted around, scoring four runs off Wells to take a 4-1 lead.

After Jose Vizcaino, Kenny Lofton and Vizquel opened the inning with singles, Albert Belle had a sacrifice fly, Jim Thome doubled in a run and Mark Carreon added a two-run double.

Jay Buhner gave Seattle a 1-0 lead in the second with his 32nd homer of the season.

Lopez, winning for the first time since April 28, gave up three runs on four hits while striking out six. He left the game with two on and one out in the seventh. Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 26th save.

Alex Diaz had an RBI single and Joey Cora a sacrifice fly after Eric Plunk replaced Lopez.

In the ninth inning, Doug Strange singled, was wild-pitched to second by Mesa, and Diaz singled pinch-runner Raul Ibanez to third. But Joey Cora hit into a game-ending double play.

“We had some shots at them,” Piniella said.

Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove was delighted with Lopez’s effort.

“He took a one-hitter into the sixth inning,” Hargrove said. “He threw the ball well. He didn’t let his pitches get up.”

In five innings, Wells surrendered four runs on 10 hits.

Game notes

Lofton, the major-league stolen base leader, stole his 54th base in the third.

Seattle right fielder Alex Diaz threw Lofton out at the plate when Lofton attempted to score from second on Brian Giles’ single in the third.

Buhner collected his 100th RBI of the season with his fifth homer in seven games.

Diaz had two stolen bases.

The Indians are 4-1 in the Kingdome this year.

Mariners notes

Alex Rodriguez began his day leading the American League with a .360 batting average - and accepting an offer to appear on David Letterman’s Late Night show Aug. 15.

Seattle’s Russ Davis has had the cast removed from his left ankle but remains unable to run and has begun only the simplest rehabilitation exercises.

DH Edgar Martinez is a few days from swinging a bat because of persistent pain from the cracked ribs suffered July 20 against the Angels in Anaheim. “We hope to get him back for the East Coast trip that starts the middle of next week,” Piniella said.

No one in the A.L. has used as many starting pitchers as Seattle (14) this season, and the only team to use as many pitchers (24) is Detroit - a last-place team auditioning its entire minor-league system. The Mariners have used eight more pitchers than Texas, and twice as many starters.

To make room for Johnson on the roster, the team optioned left-hander Tim Davis to Tacoma. First baseman Ricky Jordan has been sent to join the Rainiers on the road to continue a rehab assignment he began last week in Class A Everett. Two other Seattle pitchers - Rusty Meacham and Blas Minor - cleared waivers and were assigned to Tacoma.