Johnson Lacks His Usual Heat, Still Beats Rangers

Randy Johnson won his seventh consecutive decision, pitching the Seattle Mariners past the Texas Rangers, 2-1, Thursday night.

Johnson (11-1) limited Texas to one run--it was unearned--and four hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Johnson has allowed only one earned run in his last 44 innings. Bobby Ayala relieved Johnson and finished for his fifth save.

Only the Texas heat stopped Johnson, who got worn down after throwing 101 pitches.

“The weather zapped me the first couple innings,” Johnson said. “I felt tired then the adrenalin got me going. I’m not a robot out there. That’s probably the least number of pitches and innings this year but I was really beat. The heat was draining.

“My arm and back were tired. I was happy to get out of the game with the lead..”

Johnson picked off the only batter he walked, Mark McLemore in the third.

Texas Manager Johnny Oates said Johnson, who beat Texas, 5-0, in May, was not as overpowering as usual.

“It didn’t look like he was throwing as hard as he did earlier this year,” Oates said. “He was still getting the ball up there pretty good. It looked like he was throwing more sliders than normal.”

Paul Sorrento and Jay Buhner homered as the Mariners defeated Texas ace Ken Hill (4-5).

Sorrento connected in the second inning for his 11th homer. It was his seventh home run at The Ballpark in Arlington, tops among Ranger opponents.

Buhner hit his 18th homer in the seventh, a 393-foot shot into the left-field stands that made it 2-0.

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Next Series for Angels

WHO: Texas Rangers

WHERE: at Texas

WHEN: Monday: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.