Another Day, Another 16 Strikeouts Johnson’s Complete Game Win For M’S Is K.C’S 16th Loss In 17 Games

Randy Johnson was running on fumes, but the Seattle bullpen had nothing left in the tank.

It took 154 pitches, but Johnson struck out 16 and worked out of a ninth-inning jam, leading the Seattle Mariners past the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Friday night.

A 12-inning loss on Thursday used up much of the Seattle bullpen and the Mariners traded right-hander Scott Sanders before Friday’s game, leaving Johnson to protect a one-run lead in the final inning.

“I felt I had to step it up and get us through the game,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t coming out.”

Manager Lou Piniella saw it the same way.

“Randy said he felt strong and that this was his game,” Piniella said. “Our bullpen was short tonight and Randy gave us a breather.”

The Royals set a team record with their 12th consecutive road loss. Kansas City has dropped 16 of 17 overall.

“It hurts to lose,” Kansas City manager Tony Muser said. “I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated’ but we get disappointed because we are so close and can’t quite get over the hump.”

Johnson (13-2) fanned at least 15 for the fourth time this season, and reached double digits in strikeouts for the 10th time. The 6-foot-10 lefty leads the majors with 198 strikeouts.

“During the game it didn’t seem like Randy had a lot of strikeouts,” Seattle catcher Dan Wilson said. “But 16 is a heck of a lot.”

Johnson struck out Ryan Long to start the ninth, but David Howard walked and Bip Roberts singled pinch-runner Tom Goodwin to third.

Shane Halter, who homered in the first inning, then fanned for the fourth straight time. Johnson finished up his third complete game by retiring Jay Bell on a fly ball.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run single in the fourth that put the Mariners ahead for good.

Johnson allowed nine hits and walked three. He was coming off a 14-strikeout performance against Texas, and fanned 19 against Oakland on June 24.

Johnson has struck out 15 or more 13 times in his career. The 1995 A.L. Cy Young winner has struck out 10 or more in 78 games.

Chili Davis and Roberts each had three hits for the Royals. Halter hit the first home run of his career.

Ricky Bones (0-2) lasted only 3-2/3 innings in his first start of the season. He allowed five hits and four earned runs.

Edgar Martinez gave Seattle a 2-1 lead with a two-run single in the first. The Royals rallied for a 3-2 lead in the fourth on RBI singles by Craig Paquette and Long.

The Mariners scored three times in their half of the fourth. Jose Cruz Jr. hit an RBI single and Griffey drove home two with a single.

“I didn’t want to to give in so I went right after him,” Casian said. “He hit the ball in the hole and that ended up being the game-winning hit.”

Notes

The Royals, who led the A.L. Central at 20-17 on May 15, have gone 17-37 since… . Long’s RBI single in the fourth was his first career hit… . Of the 37 earned runs allowed by Johnson this year, 23 have come on 14 home runs… . Wilson went 0 for 3, snapping a career-high 11-game hitting streak.