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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHOENIX (AP) -- Randy Johnson might not have been at his best. It
still didn't help the Houston Astros.
Johnson pitched five-hit ball over eight innings, tied his
season high with 13 strikeouts and got his NL-leading 12th victory
Thursday night as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Astros 7-1.
"My mechanics weren't the greatest tonight but my velocity was
right where I wanted it," Johnson said. "The four walks I allowed
got me a little frustrated at the end of the game."
Steve Finley hit his second homer in as many nights for the
Diamondbacks, who won for the sixth time in eight games to remain
two games ahead of the Colorado Rockies in the NL West.
Johnson (12-2) walked four and hit a batter as he ran his
league-leading strikeout total to 177 and lowered his league-best
ERA to 1.57. Johnson reached double-digit strikeouts for the 12th
time in 17 starts this season and 137th time in his career.
"We take what he does for granted because he does what not many
people can do," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said.
Matt Mantei pitched a perfect ninth to complete the five-hitter.
Mantei and Johnson combined for 15 strikeouts, the most since Kerry
Wood struck out 20 Astros on May 6, 1998.
Shane Reynolds (6-5) retired six of the first seven hitters he
faced before running into trouble in the third inning.
Damian Miller led off with a double off the wrist of shortstop
Julio Lugo and advanced to third on Tony Womack's groundout. Jay
Bell then lined a double down the left-field line, scoring Miller.
Reynolds walked Luis Gonzalez before Finley hit his 22nd homer,
a three-run shot into the right-field stands to extend the
Diamondbacks' lead to 4-0.
"It put me in a situation, especially against a club like that,
where if I made a mistake I still had a little bit of leeway,"
Johnson said.
A baserunning error by Richard Hidalgo helped short circuit an
Astros rally in the fourth. Craig Biggio led off with a walk,
Hidalgo walked one out later and Moises Alou lined a single to
left. Biggio scored as left fielder Luis Gonzalez's throw was cut
off, but Hidalgo was tagged out trying to reach third.
Johnson walked Matt Mieske, his third walk of the inning, but
struck out Tony Eusebio to end the inning.
"It's one thing if they put the ball in play and get on via a
hit versus when you're putting them on and they're there via a free
pass," Johnson said. "Eventually, you're going to get hurt when
you walk people."
Reynolds gave up six runs on eight hits over 7 2-3 with two
walks and six strikeouts for his fifth loss in six decisions.
"That's just the way the year's going," Reynolds said. "I
made some bad pitches and that was it."
Game notes
Houston has lost five of six and is 8-20 since May 29. ...
Johnson was making his first appearance against the Astros and has
faced every club except the Diamondbacks. ... Julio Lugo and Jeff
Bagwell each stole bases against Johnson, who has allowed six
steals in his last two starts. Lugo also was thrown out trying to
steal third to end the third inning. ... Before the game, the
Diamondbacks placed 1B Erubiel Durazo on the 15-day disabled list
with soreness in his surgically repaired right wrist and recalled
OF Jason Conti from Triple-A Tucson. Conti had a pinch-hit RBI
single in the eighth, his first major league at-bat. Durazo is the
third Arizona player to go on the DL this week, following 3B Matt
Williams and RHP Todd Stottlemyre. ... Astros reliever Jay Powell,
on the DL since June 9, was diagnosed with a sprained right
shoulder by Dr. Jamie Andrews, and will be out another 2-3 weeks.
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