Bucs hand Johnson first loss of season
PHOENIX (AP) – Randy Johnson went back to work Monday night, and lost for the first time this season – on an unearned run. Second baseman Junior Spivey overthrew first in an ill-advised attempt to turn a double play in the seventh inning, allowing Jason Kendall to score the go-ahead run in Pittsburgh’s 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kendall was 3-for-4 with an RBI double and Brian Giles, 1-for-17 against Johnson entering the game, homered in the first inning for the Pirates. Pittsburgh won for only the second time in eight games and stopped Arizona’s four-game winning streak.
A lower back strain caused Johnson to miss his first start in nearly two years last Wednesday. He wasn’t at his best in his return to the mound, although he grew stronger as the night went on.
Johnson (6-1) struck out eight and walked none while scattering six hits in seven innings. Counting last year’s postseason, Johnson had won his last 11 decisions – 10 starts and one memorable World Series relief appearance – and 15 of his last 16.
Johnson’s last regular-season loss was Aug. 23 at Pittsburgh.
Josh Fogg (4-1) matched Johnson’s performance before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh. The Pirates rookie allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. He struck three, walked one intentionally and hit a batter.
Reliever Scott Sauerbeck shut down Arizona for two innings, and Mike Williams pitched the ninth for his 12th save.
With two outs in the Arizona ninth, Craig Counsell turned what appeared to be a routine single into a double with hustle and a headfirst slide. After pinch-hitter Chris Donnels walked, Tony Womack grounded out to end it.
With the game tied at 2, Kendall and Mike Benjamin singled with one out in the seventh. Jack Wilson hit a bouncer to Womack at shortstop, and he threw to Spivey for the force. But Spivey tried to turn the double play and his throw sailed over first baseman Mark Grace’s head as Kendall scored. Wilson easily would have beaten the throw anyway.
Like Giles’ homer, Pittsburgh’s second run came with two outs.
Craig Wilson singled with one out in the fourth, then Kevin Young struck out. Kendall, who has a .375 career average against Johnson (9-for-24), doubled down the left-field line and Wilson scored from first and the Pirates led 2-0.
The Diamondbacks cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Spivey was hit by a pitch and scored from first on Grace’s double into the right-field corner.
Arizona tied it at 2 in the fifth when Womack and Danny Bautista singled up the middle. Womack advanced to third on Luis Gonzalez’s fly to center, then scored when Steve Finley beat out the Pirates’ double-play try on a grounder to second.
NOTES: The crowd of 29,171 was Arizona’s smallest of the year. … Johnson started the 2000 season going 7-0. … The Pirates had lost five in a row at Bank One Ballpark but have beaten Johnson the last two times they have faced him. … Arizona C Damian Miller was back in the lineup after sitting out a game with back spasms. … Kendall has struck out just three times in 98 at-bats, best in the majors. … The Pirates improved to 2-5 on their western road trip with two games remaining.