Johnson Makes Short Work of Mets

Randy Johnson showed there were no lingering effects from last week’s grueling start.

Johnson struck out his first six batters and pitched a two-hitter Monday as the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a four-game sweep with a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets.

“He was a man on a mission today,” Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said. “He threw 149 pitches last time out and it was hot, humid conditions today. We weren’t sure what we would get out of him today. The guys in the bullpen were on alert, but Randy handled things by himself.”

Coming off the longest outing in the majors this year Wednesday in Montreal and pitching in 89-degree heat didn’t slow the Big Unit.

“It might have affected me in the past, but it obviously didn’t affect me today,” he said.

Johnson (16-4) came within two of Jim Deshaies’ record for strikeouts to start a game and didn’t allow a hit through five innings.

“Today’s game was a mental and physical grind,” Johnson said. “It was a 2-0 ballgame, I threw a lot of pitches the start before, and the weather was tough. I was just really focused to get through the ninth inning.”

Roger Cedeno’s chopper to third base broke up the no-hit bid with no outs in the sixth inning. Matt Williams fielded the ball but had no chance to get the speedy Cedeno, who slid into the base.

*

New York’s only other hit was a clean single by Mo Vaughn to lead off the seventh. Johnson struck out 11 and threw 114 pitches in his first shutout since opening day against San Diego and the 32nd of his career.

“The game dictates what I need to do,” he said. “If we score a lot of runs, there’s no need for me to be out there. But in a 2-0 game when I hadn’t thrown a lot of pitches, why not go out if I still feel good?”

Williams homered and Craig Counsell hit an RBI double off Shawn Estes (4-9) as Arizona won for the 12th time in 14 games