Johnson Returns, Arizona Sweeps

With Randy Johnson back throwing strikes, the Arizona Diamondbacks are starting to look like a winning team again.

Johnson came off the disabled list to strike out 12 and earn his first win of the season, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets and a sweep of a doubleheader Sunday at Shea Stadium.

Brandon Webb struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings of his first major league start and Craig Counsell tied his career high with four runs batted in as Arizona won the opener, 6-1.

The Mets committed eight errors and struck out a major league-record 27 times on the day.

The Diamondbacks matched their longest winning streak of the season, two, with the sweep and finished their trip 5-4.

The two-time defending National League West champions are still tied for last place at 10-15, but things are looking better with the return to form of Johnson.

Johnson (1-2), the winner of the last four NL Cy Young Awards, skipped his last two starts with inflammation in his right knee and had an 8.31 earned-run average in his first three games of the season.

“I’d been lacking a little mound presence,” Johnson said. “Today, I had that a bit. Today was obviously encouraging.”

Johnson was far from his dominating self despite his 188th career double-digit strikeout game. He gave up nine hits in six innings, but limited the Mets to two runs.

Houston 6, Montreal 3 -- Jeff Bagwell hit his major league-leading 10th home run and Jeff Kent hit a three-run shot to help the Astros end a losing streak at four. They won for only the fourth time in their last 15 games and finished 4-9 on their longest trip in 10 years.

Montreal went 4-2 on its first homestand at Olympic Stadium after going 6-4 at San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Expos averaged 12,980 during the six games in Montreal, down from 14,282 for the San Juan games.

Colorado 6, Chicago 3 -- Starter Darren Oliver won for the first time in nearly a year to help the Rockies win their fourth consecutive home series, taking two of three from the Cubs to improve to 10-2 at Coors Field, the best home start in the club’s 11-season history. The Cubs lost consecutive series for the first time this season.

Cincinnati 7, San Diego 5 -- Paul Wilson got his first win for the Reds -- he hadn’t won a game since Aug. 19, when he beat the Orioles while with Tampa Bay -- and they moved out of last place in the NL Central Division for the first time since April 14.

Wilson (1-2) gave up two home runs to Ryan Klesko and one to Ramon Vazquez, but still pitched well enough beat San Diego for the first time in six decisions.

Atlanta 7, Milwaukee 1 -- Facing left-handed starter Glendon Rusch (1-4) and reliever Shane Nance, second baseman Marcus Giles improved to 12-for-20 (.600) against southpaws. Giles had two singles, a double, drove in two runs and scored twice at Atlanta to lead the Braves, who have won 11 of their last 13 games.