Johnson to Sit Out at Least One Start

Randy Johnson, forced to leave Wednesday night’s game, will sit out at least one start for the Seattle Mariners because of tendinitis in the middle finger of his left hand.

Dr. Larry Pedegana, a team physician, examined Johnson before Thursday night’s game with Cleveland. He put Johnson’s ailing finger in a splint. X-rays showed the finger is not broken.

“It’s quite swollen and tender,” Pedegana said. “We’re going to have to see how it responds. It’s day-to-day.”

Johnson leads the major leagues with 264 strikeouts. He is 17-4 with a 2.32 earned-run average.

Last season, Johnson underwent back surgery on Sept. 12. He has made 27 starts this season.

“It’s not good,” Pedegana said. “The problem is the finger is so important to a pitcher. It’s the finger that the ball rolls off. The problem is it can alter his throwing mechanics and then you can injure something else. So it’s not a minor problem. It’s a concern.”

Pedegana said Johnson could have aggravated the finger when, angry at himself for not making good pitches in a game against Milwaukee on Aug. 3, he caught a throw to the mound from catcher Dan Wilson with his bare hand.

“Not too bright,” Johnson said after Wednesday night’s game.

Also on Thursday, the Mariners put outfielder Lee Tinsley, who has a sore right elbow, on the 15-day disabled list, optioned pitcher Felipe Lira and infielder Brent Gates to triple-A Tacoma, took outfielder Rob Ducey off the 15-day disabled list and recalled outfielder Andy Sheets from Tacoma.

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The Atlanta Braves said left-hander Terrell Wade underwent successful arthroscopic surgery Thursday to repair a partial tear in the shoulder. Wade is expected to be back for the start of spring training next season. . . . The Montreal Expos put right-handed pitcher Dave Veres on the 15-day disabled list because of a right shoulder strain. To replace Veres, the Expos purchased the contract of right-hander Shayne Bennett from triple-A Ottawa.