Mariners’ Johnson Is on a Mean Streak : Baseball: Feisty left-hander from USC, who is 7-1 in his past 10 starts, strikes out 11 while beating the Angels.

Randy Johnson doesn’t hang a Do-Not-Disturb sign on his locker, but teammates know to steer clear of the Seattle Mariner left-hander on the days he pitches.

“He’s in a different mode, on his own program,” Seattle outfielder Jay Buhner said. “He doesn’t have a whole lot to say, and people don’t say too much to him. It’s an unwritten rule.”

Johnson is the first to admit he can be a bit ornery on the days he pitches, but he can also be downright nasty on the nights he pitches. Just ask the Angels, who spent much of Saturday night trying to catch up with his fastballs and swat his curves and sliders.

The Angels had some success but not much as the 6-foot-10 Johnson, the tallest player in major league history, allowed six hits and struck out 11 in seven innings to help the Mariners to a 9-3 victory before 28,942 in Anaheim Stadium. The victory kept Seattle within 5 1/2 games of the first-place Minnesota Twins.

Johnson, who improved to 10-7 and 7-1 in his past 10 starts, tired in the seventh inning, when the Angels got four of their hits and scored two of their runs. But until then, the USC alumnus was practically untouchable.

He struck out seven of eight batters from the fourth through the sixth innings, using a combination of finesse and force.

He completely fooled Lance Parrish to end the fourth inning, snapping off a curveball that started well outside but caught the outside corner for a called third strike. Parrish offered no argument.

Johnson caught Dick Schofield looking with a similar pitch to end the fifth, then blew a 3-2 fastball by a swinging Dave Winfield for the second out of the sixth.

“My name is never mentioned as a fastball pitcher--you always hear (Roger) Clemens and (Nolan) Ryan,” said Johnson, who took the lead in the American League in strikeouts with 159. “Clemens has 35 more innings than me and I have more strikeouts. I’m a power pitcher and I just want to be recognized as one. Hopefully in time I’ll get that respect.”

Johnson’s teammates provided plenty of power Saturday night--Alvin Davis, Buhner and Ken Griffey Jr. hit two-run homers--but the Mariner defense was a little shaky. Shortstop Omar Vizquel’s error in the third allowed Shawn Abner to score the Angels’ first run, and the Angels later loaded the bases with one out.

But Johnson got Winfield to hit into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the threat and keeping the Mariners ahead, 3-1.

“That was the biggest out of the game,” Johnson said.

Johnson also was pleased with his ability to maintain his composure after Vizquel’s error. Earlier this season and in past years, Johnson, 27, might have ranted and raved and lost his concentration. Instead, he shook off the mistake and got out of the inning.

“When I first came up through the minor leagues, I was very animated, fierce, high-strung,” Johnson said. “When someone made an error or I made a bad pitch, I used to get down on myself or upset.

“But I came to the conclusion that that’s not going to help me. I don’t let that bother me. I’ve come a long way in that category, and hopefully I can get better.”

A throwing error by left fielder Greg Briley also contributed to the Angels’ two-run seventh inning, but Johnson cut short what could have been a big inning by striking out Bobby Rose with runners on first and third.

“Randy pitched a great game--he’s really settled down and is getting more and more confident,” Seattle Manager Jim Lefebvre said. “The first part of the year he was fighting himself. He put too much pressure on himself and was trying to do too much. But he’s had only one shaky outing in his last eight, and it’s nice to see this time of year.”