Johnson’s Return Delayed By Son’s Illness

The long-awaited return of Randy Johnson was pushed back to tonight after his 1-year-old son was hospitalized with a viral respiratory infection.

Johnson, the 1995 A.L. Cy Young Award winner, had been scheduled to start Friday night against the Boston Red Sox. He is recovering from back surgery and hasn’t started since last May.

“He’s not ready to pitch tonight,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said before Friday’s game. “So we’re going to flip flop (Bob) Wolcott and Randy. Hopefully, Randy will go tomorrow.”

Johnson spent the night at a hospital with his son, Tanner, whose first birthday is today. The boy, admitted to a Seattle hospital on Thursday, was in good condition Friday. He was likely to be released today.

Johnson, a 33-year-old left-hander, was 5-0 in eight starts last season before going on the disabled list in May. He underwent surgery Sept. 12 to repair a bulging disc in his lower back.

He was 18-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 1995.