Padres Finally Get Best of Johnson

The San Diego Padres broke out of their slump against Randy Johnson with a bang.

The Padres pounded the four-time Cy Young winner for eight runs and beat him for the first time in 14 regular-season tries, outlasting the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11-9, Sunday at San Diego.

Phil Nevin had a three-run double and pitcher Jake Peavy had a two-run double in a six-run second inning against Johnson.

“I felt good, I felt like I made some good pitches,” Johnson said. “But when I had to throw a strike, they banged it pretty good.”

Johnson (13-4) gave up eight hits in five innings, his shortest outing this season. Johnson had been 8-0 with a 1.57 earned-run average against the Padres.

“Johnson has absolutely dominated us,” Nevin said. “Normally, he is able to put his fastball [inside] and overmatch right-handed hitters. It seemed like he didn’t have that today.”

Johnson had trouble with his control, walking four batters in the first two innings, including three in the second, all of whom scored. Johnson finished with a season-high six walks.

Peavy started the scoring in the second inning with a two-run double, Nevin added a bases-loaded double and Ron Gant hit a run-scoring double, all with two out.

“That seemed to jump-start us,” Manager Bruce Bochy said about Peavy’s hit. “It got contagious.”

Peavy (2-3) nearly gave away the lead when he gave up five runs in the third inning. But the rookie managed to last five innings for his second consecutive victory. He gave up five runs--four earned--and four hits.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances.

St. Louis 8, Pittsburgh 4--Chuck Finley won his National League debut by getting the offensive support he seldom got in Cleveland, with Albert Pujols hitting a home run and driving in four runs at Pittsburgh.

Finley, who pitched 17 seasons in the American League, wasn’t dazzling. He squandered a three-run lead before leaving after giving up four runs--three earned--in six innings.

Finley helped himself by producing one of the Cardinals’ 14 hits with a double against Josh Fogg (10-7) in the fourth. It was his first hit in 27 career at-bats.

Atlanta 2, Philadelphia 1--Kevin Millwood pitched eight strong innings, Gary Sheffield homered and the Braves completed a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

Millwood (9-6) didn’t give up a hit until Marlon Anderson led off the sixth with a single to right. He gave up four hits and one run and struck out six to win his fifth in a row.

Cincinnati 9, New York 1--Barry Larkin and Brandon Larson hit solo homers, and Kelly Stinnett drove in three runs as the Reds salvaged the last game of a three-game series at Cincinnati.

The Mets had scored 76 runs in the previous 11 games, winning eight of them, to move into a tie with Cincinnati for third place in the NL wild-card race.

Chicago 3, Houston 2--Mark Bellhorn and Fred McGriff homered, and Alex Gonzalez drove in the go-ahead run with a double against Tim Redding (3-6) at Chicago.

Lance Berkman hit his NL-leading 30th homer for Houston.

Colorado 6, Milwaukee 4--Larry Walker homered and scored twice, and Brent Butler hit a solo homer to help the Rockies complete a three-game sweep at Denver.

Walker went three for three with a run batted in and a walk to raise his NL-leading batting average to .358.

Jason Jennings (10-5) gave up three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings to become Colorado’s first 10-game winner.

Florida 4, Montreal 0--Josh Beckett (3-4) had a career-high 12 strikeouts in six innings at Miami and the Marlins completed a three-game sweep.

The Expos have lost eight of 11 since the All-Star break and have been shut out in the last two games.