When Randy Johnson Is Pitching, Count on Strikeouts and Victories

Randy Johnson has been unbeatable since last July, and it was more of the same Monday night in his finest performance of the year.

Johnson pitched a three-hitter, striking out 12, and Jay Buhner homered as the Seattle Mariners ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Johnson (6-0) retired the last 17 batters--striking out the side in the ninth--to win his eighth consecutive decision, matching his career high. He hasn’t lost since Detroit beat him, 3-1, last July 27. He leads the majors with 82 strikeouts.

The 140-pitch effort enabled Johnson to tie Rick Honeycutt’s club record for consecutive victories at the start of a season. He walked one and allowed only one runner past first base in his 13th career shutout. Johnson lowered his ERA to 1.83 with his first complete game of the season.

“I got the rhythm and went with it,” Johnson said.

The game was scoreless in the sixth when Edgar Martinez hit a two-out single and Buhner drove a pitch into the left-field seats.

Ben McDonald (1-3) finished with a five-hitter.