Klesko Upstages Johnson

It started with Randy Johnson sending batter after batter back to the dugout, and ended in the 13th inning with Ryan Klesko sending a ball over the fence.

Klesko’s leadoff home run in the 13th inning gave the Padres a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in a game full of strikeouts, big defensive plays and wasted chances.

“It was just great baseball. For a 1-0 game, there was a lot going on,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said.

Johnson held the Padres hitless until the sixth, finishing with 14 strikeouts in 71/3 innings.

“Anybody who watched any part of that game knows it’s exciting, and that you can’t ask for a better finish,” said Klesko, a left-handed hitter who wasn’t in the starting lineup against Johnson.

“I was enjoying the off day, but it’s just one of those things with a storybook ending.”

Although the Padres had only four hits and struck out 19 times, they defeated the Diamondbacks for the third consecutive time in the four-game series, with all the victories coming against Arizona’s bullpen.

“Once you get into the bullpen, anything can happen,” said Padre rookie Brian Lawrence, who shut down the Diamondbacks on six hits in eight innings.

The Diamondbacks’ lead in the National League West was cut to two games over San Francisco.

“It just puts that much more emphasis on the remainder of the trip,” Johnson said.

Arizona begins a three-game series at San Francisco on Tuesday night.

Klesko, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the 10th, homered to right-center field, his 28th, on the first pitch from Byung-Hyun Kim (4-5).

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases with two out in the 12th and 13th innings, but failed to score.

“This has got to change,” Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said.

“When your pitching staff gives up four base hits over 12 innings, these somehow are ballgames you have to win.”

Johnson has struck out 10 batters or more in 21 of 30 starts, three short of breaking the major league record he shares with Nolan Ryan.