Nothing Big About Unit in Loss to Mets

The Mets are Randy Johnson’s nemesis, and never was that more apparent than Friday night, when he failed to strike out a batter for the first time in 10 years and lasted only 2 1/3 innings of Arizona’s 13-3 loss at New York.

“Nothing worked,” said Johnson, who is 0-3 with a 7.29 ERA in his last four starts against the Mets, including a playoff game last year. “I just didn’t pitch very well today. I wish I could pitch tomorrow so I could redeem myself. But it doesn’t work that way.”

New York leads Arizona by 5 1/2 games in the National League wild-card race. The Diamondbacks, who trail first-place San Francisco by 3 1/2 games in the NL West, have lost four in a row after a seven-game winning streak.

“We’ve got to win baseball games, regardless of whether it’s our division or the wild card,” Arizona Manager Buck Showalter said. “None of it matters unless you win. I think that’s our focus right now. “

The Diamondbacks’ best chance to win usually is Johnson, but he gave up six runs--three earned--on eight hits. He also made a throwing error in his shortest outing since April 15, 1998, when he also worked 2 1/3 innings.

For only the third time in his career, Johnson--the NL leader in earned-run average and strikeouts--did not strike out anyone in a start.

“I have no way to figure that out,” Met Manager Bobby Valentine said of his team’s success against Johnson. “We come to play and he probably didn’t have his best stuff tonight. A couple of our hits fell and we took advantage of some breaks.”

New York’s Rick Reed worked seven innings, giving up five hits and Steve Finley’s 31st homer, a three-run shot in the sixth inning. Only two of the runs against Reed (8-4) were earned because of an error by shortstop Mike Bordick.

Atlanta 7, St. Louis 4--While Johnson struggled at New York, Tom Glavine (17-6) gave up three runs over seven innings in becoming the first 17-game winner in the National League.

Chipper Jones hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning at Atlanta, and Glavine won for the 10th time in his last 11 starts.

San Francisco 16, Philadelphia 3--Russ Ortiz (10-10) won for the fifth time in a row and helped himself with three hits for the Giants, who pounded out 21 hits in their win at Philadelphia.

San Francisco has won nine of its last 11 and leads Arizona by 3 1/2 games in the NL West, the largest edge the Giants have had this season.

Cincinnati 6, Florida 0--Ken Griffey Jr. had three hits and Elmer Dessens ended his losing streak at four games for the Reds, who won at Miami and extended the Marlins’ scoreless streak to 23 innings.

Griffey singled in the first, third and fifth innings, helping stake the Reds to a 3-0 lead. Dessens (6-4) gave up seven hits in seven innings for his first win since July 28. He struck out five.

Colorado 6, Pittsburgh 3--Neifi Perez had three doubles in going four for four and Julian Tavarez (9-2) remained undefeated as a starter for the Rockies, who won at Denver.

Todd Helton went 0 for 2, dropping his average one point to .392.

Tavarez (9-2), who gave up three runs and nine hits in seven innings, is 4-0 in six starts since he moved into the rotation when the Rockies traded Rolando Arrojo to Boston on July 27.

Houston 3, Montreal 1--Chris Holt (6-12) gave up one run and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings and Astro catcher Tony Eusebio singled to extend his hitting streak to 21 games in Houston’s win at Montrea.

San Diego 4, Milwaukee 0--Rookie Brian Tollberg (3-2) won for the first time since June 25 and Mike Darr had three hits and drove in a run for the Padres at Milwaukee.