Big Unit Is Reappraised on Heels of Roof-Raiser

The old Randy Johnson, that fire-breathing, expletive-screaming, fist-pumping, mound-stalking Mariner menace, returned to the Kingdome for at least one appearance Saturday, just in time to knock the Angels off their perch atop the American League West.

One day after scuffling with teammate David Segui in the Seattle clubhouse, Johnson seemed to vent a season’s worth of frustration against the Angels, striking out 15 in a five-hitter to lead the Mariners to a 2-0 victory before 35,788 in the Kingdome.

Edgar Martinez slapped a two-run single in the sixth, and rookie left fielder Shane Monahan made a diving catch of Tim Salmon’s eighth-inning liner with runners on second and third, but the big topic of the day was the Big Unit.

“When I picked up the paper [Saturday] morning and saw that he had a little spat [Friday], I felt we were in for a long day,” said Angel Manager Terry Collins, whose team dropped half a game behind Texas, which defeated Oakland. “This guy pitches on emotion, and he had it today. If there’s any question whether Randy Johnson is still one of the best pitchers in the game, they were answered today.”

Johnson’s whole season, from the start of spring training to this point, has been a never-ending series of questions.

Do the Mariners give him a contract extension? Do they trade him now, knowing there’s no chance of him re-signing with Seattle? Is he healthy? Are the trade rumors a distraction? Does he care anymore?

“This guy has been through a lot this year,” said Seattle catcher John Marzano, whose thumb was sore from Johnson’s 98-mph fastballs. “But if he’s focused, you see what happens. He dominates people.”

Those who follow the Mariners said Saturday was the first time this season Johnson (8-8) seemed motivated for an entire game. The 6-foot-10 left-hander looked angry, on edge, and pitched with a determination that has been lacking too often this season. Of his 137 pitches, 93 were for strikes.

“He can’t pitch better than that, which makes you wonder where it’s been all season,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said. “That’s a great hitting team he shut down.”

The Angels ripped Johnson for five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of an 8-1 victory on June 3, a game in which Johnson seemed passive, almost disinterested.

His fastball was mostly in the 91-mph range, and his slider was downright ordinary that game, “but he was a completely different guy out there today,” Angel catcher Phil Nevin said. “The fire he had . . . that was the Randy Johnson of old.”

Johnson’s fastball, which peaked at 98 mph, was still clocked at 95 mph in the ninth, but his strikeout pitch was a vicious slider that broke from the outside corner toward the hands or ankles of right-handed hitters.

Johnson, who outdueled knuckleballer Steve Sparks (two runs, four hits, seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings), fooled Nevin so thoroughly with a slider in the fourth that Nevin fell to the ground as he swung and missed, striking out with runners on first and third.

“That was the nastiest pitch I’ve ever seen in my life,” Nevin said. “It started outside, and it would have hit me if I didn’t get out of the way in the middle of my swing. It’s just a hard, sharp slider that you don’t see every day. In fact, you never see it.”

Johnson, who has a career 14-6 record and 2.71 earned-run average against the Angels, struck out every Angel starter at least once except shortstop Gary DiSarcina, and it marked the 17th time in his career he has struck out 15 or more.

He seemed particularly pumped after striking out Cecil Fielder to end the sixth, screaming what appeared to be an obscenity back toward home plate.

Fielder, who had two singles but also struck out twice, said he wasn’t sure what Johnson shouted, just as he seemed perplexed by the sudden reappearance of the pitcher who had been so dominant in recent years but so dormant this season.

“I don’t know where he’s been, but he threw some incredible sliders today--he was putting guys on the ground with those pitches,” Fielder said. “When he’s on like that, you’re in for a long, long day.”

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Strikeout Leaders

Seattle pitcher Randy Johnson recorded 15 strikeouts for the third time this season, putting his nine-inning average at 12.3. He has 10 or more strikeouts 93 times in his career. This season’s strikeout leaders: *--*

Pitcher, Team 9-Inn. SO Randy Johnson, Mariners 12.3 185 Curt Schilling, Phillies, 10.8 185 Kerry Wood, Cubs 13.3 148 Pedro Martinez, Red Sox 9.9 147 Chuck Finley, Angels 9.3 141

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