Johnson Heats Up, Fans 16 in No. 19

Even by his own incredible standards, Randy Johnson was bringing it Sunday. His fastball has never been faster. His slider topped out at 90 mph.

“I just woke up today and I was a power pitcher,” he said, “you know, lo and behold.”

Johnson struck out 16 to earn his 19th victory as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs, 7-0.

“Velocity alone, this was by far his best game of the season,” Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said. “We had him at 102 mph on the strikeout pitch to end the seventh. He hit 100 two other times, 99 two times and 98 seven times.”

Johnson’s win total is second in the majors to teammate Curt Schilling’s 21. He scattered six hits and walked two to improve to 11-0 in 12 starts against the Cubs, who were missing Sammy Sosa because of a sore neck.

In seven starts since giving up eight runs in five innings of a loss at San Diego, Johnson is 6-0 with a 0.90 earned-run average and 87 strikeouts in 57 innings.

“I just feel like I’m locked in,” he said.

Johnson (19-4) reached double-digit strikeouts for the sixth consecutive start. The shutout was Johnson’s third this year--second in five starts--and 33rd of his career. He struck out four in a row twice in the game.

“That’s as dominating as I’ve seen him,” Arizona catcher Chad Moeller said. “Sixteen strikeouts, and he said it, he didn’t realize how hard he was throwing in the last inning. I’m looking up at the board and I see 99 up there. I mean it’s unbelievable what that guy is capable of.”

Alex Gonzalez tripled with one out in the ninth, but Johnson fanned Chad Hermansen and Joe Girardi to preserve the shutout. The 16 strikeouts were one short of Johnson’s season high.

Erubiel Durazo ended an 0-for-8 drought with an RBI triple in the fourth inning for the only run Johnson needed. Durazo scored on a single by Matt Williams. Johnson added a two-run single in a five-run eighth, and Williams had another RBI single.

The Diamondbacks finished their homestand 5-1 and have won 26 of their last 32 games overall. They are 32-11 since the All-Star break.

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Always on Strike

Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson struck out 16 in Sunday’s victory over the Chicago Cubs. Johnson is one of two active players with more than 3,000 strikeouts. A look at the active leaders with their win-loss record and earned-run average:

*--* David Wells 180 120 4.08 1,742 Player W L ERA SO Roger Clemens 280 145 3.10 3,717 Randy Johnson 219 105 3.08 3,691 Greg Maddux 268 151 2.84 2,615 Chuck Finley 197 172 3.85 2,575 Curt Schilling 153 105 3.31 2,291 John Smoltz 163 118 3.36 2,229 Pedro Martinez 149 62 2.61 2,193 Kevin Brown 183 121 3.20 2,062 Tom Glavine 240 139 3.36 2,033 Andy Benes 153 139 4.01 1,982 Kevin Appier 159 124 3.64 1,906 Mike Mussina 179 99 3.59 1,876

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