Walker Will Not Face Johnson

Larry Walker, among the major league leaders in several batting categories, intends to sit out Friday night when the Colorado Rockies face Seattle Mariner ace Randy Johnson at the Kingdome. It will be the second interleague game between the teams. “I faced Randy one time in spring training and he almost killed me,” Walker said.

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As owners voted at Philadelphia to give three-year contract extensions to the league presidents, the head of the search committee for a new baseball commissioner acknowledged many teams want Bud Selig to keep the post.

“A lot of teams feel we made so much progress, he shouldn’t come out,” Colorado Rocky chairman Jerry McMorris said.

NL President Len Coleman and AL President Gene Budig were voted three-year extensions through 2002. . . . Dwight Gooden, on the disabled list since April 11 because of a hernia, will be activated by the New York Yankees and is expected to pitch Sunday against the Florida Marlins. . . . Cincinnati Red closer Jeff Brantley will be sidelined 2-3 months because of a tear in the back of his shoulder.