AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Johnson, Mariners Walk Over Indians

The 13 strikeouts were more or less routine. What made Randy Johnson’s performance extraordinary was the number of walks.

Zero.

“No walks? Man, not since Little League for me,” Johnson said after Seattle’s 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night at Cleveland.

“I figure if you put guys on and then their big guns follow with a hit, that’s what I have to worry about here,” Johnson said “That’s how big innings start.”

For the first time in his career, the Seattle left-hander pitched a complete game without walking a batter. It was the third time this year and the seventh time in his career that Johnson (9-1) avoided walking a batter in a start. He has led the league in walks three times.

Johnson got his third complete game, throwing a season-high 160 pitches along the way. He gave up eight hits and increased his major league-leading strikeout total to 152 while stopping Seattle’s four-game losing streak.

He has reached double figures in strikeouts eight times this year.

“He keeps everybody off stride because he throws so hard and he’s got a dynamite breaking ball,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “He’s so tall [6 feet 10], he looks like he’s just reaching out and handing you the ball.

“I thought he threw a lot of pitches. The last time I saw a pitcher throw 160 pitches, it was Roger Clemens three or four years ago, and he went on the DL right after that. I do not mean that as a criticism of anybody. Lou Piniella’s a good manager.”

Toronto 4, Oakland 2--Joe Carter homered and drove in all four runs to spoil the first major league start of Cuban emigre Ariel Prieto, as the Blue Jays defeated the slumping Athletics at Oakland.

Prieto (0-1), a former star for the Cuban national team who emigrated to the United States on April 7, was selected by the A’s as the fifth pick in the June amateur draft. He gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings, walking two and striking out five.

Boston 5, Minnesota 4--One night after being traded from the Twins, Rick Aguilera got his first save for the Red Sox at Minneapolis.

After Lee Tinsley’s two-out single in the top of the ninth inning scored Willie McGee with the go-ahead run, Aguilera came on to a standing ovation in the stadium where he pitched since 1989.

He gave up a leadoff single to Chuck Knoblauch, who stole second. After Dan Mastellar grounded to first, Kirby Puckett struck out and Matt Merullo lined to first as Aguilera earned his 13th save.

Detroit 3, Kansas City 1--David Wells won his sixth consecutive start and defeated Kevin Appier in an all-star pitching matchup as the Tigers beat the Royals at Detroit for their fifth consecutive victory.

Wells (8-3), who has not lost since May 18 against Baltimore, is 7-0 in eight home starts. He gave up seven hits, struck out five and walked two in his third complete game of the season.

Appier (11-5) lost his third consecutive start despite giving up only three hits in his third complete game. He struck out 11 and walked four in eight innings.

The Tigers, who matched their longest winning streak of the season, have won nine consecutive home games and eight of 10 overall. Kansas City has lost 10 of its last 12.

Baltimore 5, Chicago 2--Chris Hoiles hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning as the Orioles beat the White Sox at Chicago.

Kevin Bass singled to start the ninth and Jeffrey Hammonds walked on four pitches off Jim Abbott (4-4). Hoiles, batting .198 before the game, then hit his ninth homer of the season.

Texas 10, New York 0--Bob Tewksbury pitched his first American League shutout with a six-hitter and Jack Voigt’s three-run homer keyed a five-run second inning as the Rangers beat the Yankees at Arlington, Tex.

Voigt, two for 32 in his previous 15 games as his average fell from .400 to .143, went three for four to lead the Rangers’ 15-hit attack.

Tewksbury (7-3) cruised to the fifth shutout of his career and third victory in his last four decisions. He walked none and struck out four as the Rangers got their 11th victory in the last 14 home games.