Johnson Blanks the Cubs

Randy Johnson doesn’t really care about milestones, statistics or his place in history.

But the rest of the Arizona Diamondbacks are impressed enough by what he’s doing to make up for him.

“I don’t think anybody assumes to take lightly what he’s able to do,” Arizona Manager Buck Showalter said. “Guys like him don’t come your way very often.”

Johnson became only the third pitcher to win six games in April, striking out 11 and giving up five hits in seven innings Sunday as the Diamondbacks defeated the Chicago Cubs, 6-0, at Wrigley Field.

The 1999 National League Cy Young winner also won his last three decisions last season, giving him a nine-game winning streak.

“I don’t get all wrapped up in that stuff,” Johnson said. “I go out there every fifth day and do the best I can.”

Johnson got into trouble once, in the seventh inning. Sammy Sosa led off with a walk, but Johnson struck out Glenallen Hill and Roosevelt Brown. Damon Buford singled and Joe Girardi followed with a single off Johnson’s glove to load the bases.

But Johnson got Shane Andrews on a called strike to end the inning.

He has 130 games in his career with 10 or more strikeouts, second only to Nolan Ryan’s 215.

Johnson leads the majors in earned-run average (0.91), strikeouts (64) and opponents’ batting average (.156). He also leads the majors in victories, shutouts (two) and complete games (three).

Vida Blue and Dave Stewart are the only other pitchers to win six in April, but Johnson did it with a better ERA. Blue went 6-1 with a 1.19 ERA in 1971, and Stewart was 6-0 with a 2.98 ERA in 1988.

New York 14, Colorado 11--Todd Zeile capped a successful weekend at Coors Field with his first homer of the season to help the Mets.

Zeile went eight for 15 with seven RBIs in three games to raise his average to .302. Edgardo Alfonzo, who went four for five with a homer and four RBIs, was 10 for 13 and scored seven runs in the three games.

Tom Goodwin hit a grand slam to cap a six-run eighth that cut New York’s lead to 11-9. Goodwin also had a sacrifice fly and finished with five RBIs.

St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 3--Not even Curt Schilling’s return could help the Phillies.

Schilling, starting his first game after shoulder surgery, struck out eight in six innings at Philadelphia, but it wasn’t enough. They have lost three in a row and 13 of 16.

Mark McGwire hit a two-run homer and Jim Edmonds had a solo homer. The Cardinals hit 55 homers in April, tying the 1947 New York Giants for most homers in any month by a National League team. They hit 55 in July 1947.

Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 2--Ken Griffey Jr. hit a three-run homer, his seventh, in the seventh inning after the Reds squandered scoring chances at Pittsburgh.

The Reds stranded seven runners in the first six innings, including the bases loaded in the sixth, before Griffey hit a 1-and-0 pitch into the right-field seats.

Montreal 4, San Francisco 3--Pinch-hitter Rondell White hit a long fly to left field in the ninth inning, enabling Andy Tracy to score and hand the Giants their seventh loss in eight games at Pacific Bell Park.

Milwaukee 4, Houston 3--The Brewers won for only the third time in 13 games when Jeromy Burnitz’s two-out double in the ninth inning drove in Marquis Grissom at Milwaukee.

Atlanta 7, San Diego 4--The Braves tied a club record with their 13th consecutive win and Tom Glavine improved to 5-0 by limiting the Padres to three hits in eight innings at San Diego.