Johnson Paying Off for Arizona

Dodger pitcher Kevin Brown got the seven-year, $105-million contract before the 1999 season, a perk-filled deal that includes 12 round trips per year on a private jet, but the Diamondbacks are getting a far greater return on a smaller investment in Randy Johnson.

Johnson signed a four-year, $52-million deal with Arizona on Dec. 1, 1998, a few weeks before Brown signed with the Dodgers, and the Diamondbacks exercised a 2003 option for $13.5 million, bringing their total investment in Johnson to $65.5 million in five years.

The Dodgers were one of four teams to make Johnson an offer in the four-year, $50-million range, but many criticized then-general manager Kevin Malone for not pursuing Johnson as vigorously as he did Brown.

Who got more bang for the buck? In the four years since Brown and Johnson headed that winter’s free-agent class, Johnson is 77-27 with a 2.54 earned-run average and 1,376 strikeouts, and Brown is 44-22 with a 2.92 ERA and 595 strikeouts.

Johnson has won three Cy Young awards, has two 20-win seasons, and he has led the Diamondbacks to one World Series championship and two National League West titles. Brown’s Dodgers have not reached the playoffs.

Brown, 37, has been on the disabled list six times as a Dodger and has undergone two major surgeries; Johnson, who turns 39 on Tuesday, has not gone on the disabled list as a Diamondback.

Johnson, who threw a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks Wednesday, also improved to 10-1 in 16 starts this season following a loss. Arizona won each of those games in which Johnson had a no-decision.

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Brian Jordan did his best Spiderman impersonation Wednesday, scaling the wall in an attempt to rob Matt Williams of a first-inning home run, but the Dodger left fielder wound up on a training-room table instead of a highlight reel.

The ball nicked off the tip of Jordan’s glove and landed in the bullpen, part of a five-run first that catapulted Arizona to a 7-1 victory. Jordan, who was sidelined for three weeks in August because of a protrusion in his lower back, aggravated the injury and left the game in the bottom of the third inning.

But neither Jordan, who was listed as day to day, nor Manager Jim Tracy believed the injury was serious, and Jordan expects to play when the Dodgers begin a three-game series against Houston on Friday.

“I tweaked it, no doubt about that,” Jordan said. “It wasn’t worth it, because I didn’t come down with the ball. I could have stayed in the game, but [Dodger trainers] wanted me to get some treatment and a day of rest. I should be ready Friday.”

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Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek sat out Wednesday’s game because of a tender right hamstring, a condition that has bothered him for about a month. But the injury is not serious, and Grudzielanek is expected to return for Friday night’s game against Houston.... Las Vegas Manager Brad Mills, in his first year in the Dodger organization, has been named Pacific Coast League manager of the year after guiding the 51s to a league-best 85-59 record.