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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets keep causing big problems for
the Big Unit.
Randy Johnson was anything but his dominant self against the
Mets, failing to strike out a batter for the first time in 11 years
and lasting only 2 1/3 innings as New York routed the Arizona
Diamondbacks 13-3 Friday night.
|  | | Jay Payton hits a two-run triple off D-Backs ace Randy Johnson in the third inning Friday. Payton was 2-for-5 on the night. |
"Nothing worked," said Johnson, who is 0-3 with a 7.29 ERA in
his last four starts, including a playoff game last year, against
the Mets. "I just didn't pitch very well today. I wish I could
pitch tomorrow so I could redeem myself. But it doesn't work that
way."
The Mets lead Arizona by 5½ games in the wild card race. The
Diamondbacks, who trail first-place San Francisco by 3½ in the NL
West, have lost four in a row following a seven-game winning
streak.
"We've got to win baseball games regardless of whether it's our
division or the wild card," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said.
"None of it matters unless you win. I think that's our focus right
now. "
Johnson allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits. He also
made a throwing error in his shortest outing since April 15, 1998,
when he also worked 2 1/3 innings.
For only the third time in his career, the 6-foot-10 left-hander -- the NL leader in ERA and strikeouts -- did not fan anyone in a
start.
The only other times Johnson (16-5) started and didn't strike
out a batter came in consecutive outings for Montreal in 1989 on
April 10 at Philadelphia and again five days later at Pittsburgh.
"I have no way to figure that out," Mets manager Bobby
Valentine said of his team's success against Johnson. "We come to
play and he probably didn't have his best stuff tonight. A couple
of our hits fell and we took advantage of some breaks."
Rick Reed worked seven innings, allowing five hits and Steve
Finley's 31st homer, a three-run shot in the sixth. Only two of the
runs against Reed (8-4) were earned because of an error by
shortstop Mike Bordick.
"I felt pretty good," said Reed, who snapped a personal
two-game losing streak. "I was able to hit my spots and keep them
off-balance. For the most part, they hit it at someone except for
Steve Finley."
The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the second, helped out by the first
of two key Arizona errors.
Jay Payton squirted a grounder inside the first-base bag for a
single to drive in Todd Zeile. Bordick then grounded to third
baseman Matt Williams, who was playing in. Williams dropped the
ball, picked it up and fired home but Benny Agbayani slid around
the tag of Damian Miller to score. Joe McEwing's safety squeeze bunt brought in Payton.
Edgardo Alfonzo, who was 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs
scored, singled to open the third. Mike Piazza followed with a
one-hopper back to the mound. Johnson gloved it cleanly, but
skipped a throw past shortstop Tony Womack, sending Alfonzo to
third. Zeile singled in Alfonzo.
Payton sliced a shot to right that Danny Bautista broke in on,
but let sail over his head as he jumped. The ball rolled to the
fence for a double, scoring Piazza and Zeile to make it 6-0.
Agbayani was thrown out at the plate, but Johnson's night had come
to a close.
"I think they are very confident and they are selective,"
Showalter said. "I think a lot of teams are confident, but aren't
able to carry it over. It's not like he's never pitched well
against them, but lately he's struggled."
Mike Morgan relieved and worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing four
sixth-inning runs. The big blow was Agbayani's three-run double
that made it 10-3. Agbayani, who was 3-for-3 with two walks, has
reached base safely in nine straight trips.
Johnson lost to New York at home on Aug. 4, when he lasted only
3 2-3 innings. In the 6-1 loss, Johnson yielded five runs (two
earned) on eight hits. He struck out five and walked two.
Johnson gave up five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings on May
21 at Shea Stadium in a no-decision. New York won that game 7-6.
The Mets also tagged Johnson for a loss in Game 1 of last year's
division series. Johnson gave up seven runs on eight hits in 8 1/3
innings.
"I take full responsibility when I go out there and pitch,"
Johnson said. "I pitch to keep our team in the game and I didn't
do that tonight."
Game notes
New York LHP Mike Hampton threw for 12 minutes in the
bullpen before the game and he was deemed fit to start on Sunday.
Hampton missed his last start because of a stress fracture in a
rib. ... Alfonzo returned after missing one game with a stiff neck.
... The Diamondbacks have lost six straight at Shea Stadium,
including the final two games of last year's division series and a
three-game sweep in May. Arizona is 1-6 against New York this
season. ... Payton's three RBIs were a career high. ... Agbayani
walked in his first two plate appearances against Johnson, seeing
only eight pitches.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
NY Mets Clubhouse
Rib's OK, so Hampton's set to return to Mets rotation
RECAPS
Baltimore 4
Tampa Bay 3
Kansas City 6
Boston 2
Minnesota 8
Detroit 3
Texas 1
Toronto 0
Oakland 8
NY Yankees 1
Anaheim 4
Cleveland 1
Chi. White Sox 4
Seattle 1
Los Angeles 5
Chicago Cubs 3
Los Angeles 3
Chicago Cubs 1
(2nd game)
Cincinnati 6
Florida 0
Houston 3
Montreal 1
Colorado 6
Pittsburgh 3
NY Mets 13
Arizona 3
San Francisco 16
Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 7
St. Louis 4
San Diego 4
Milwaukee 0
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