Big Unit beats Padres 5-1 for first win since having back surgery in August
By BERNIE WILSON | Associated Press | Apr 25, 08 11:47 PM CDT in
Sports
Randy Johnson got his first victory since having back surgery in August, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 win over San Diego on Friday night. Johnson held the Padres' popgun offense to one run on three hits while striking out seven in six innings.
The last-place Padres lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Johnson's last win came on June 10 against Boston. He made one more start before his 2007 ended because of a sore back that required a second surgery in less than a year.
The 44-year-old left-hander had a no-decision in his first start this season and lost to Randy Wolf and the Padres on Sunday, 9-4 at Phoenix.
The NL West-leading Diamondbacks jumped on Wolf for five runs in the third inning, which was highlighted by Mark Reynolds' three-run homer to straightaway center. The Diamondbacks scored as many runs that inning as the Padres had in their previous 55 innings at Petco Park. Chris Young doubled in a run and Orlando Hudson had an RBI single that inning.
Reynolds has seven homers and 22 RBIs, both team highs.
The Padres position players and hitting coach Wally Joyner held a pregame meeting that leadoff batter Brian Giles described as "productive."
Still, the Padres are struggling to come up with key hits while playing a sputtering brand of station-to-station ball.
San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the fourth yet scored only one run. Kevin Kouzmanoff singled, Khalil Greene doubled and Justin Huber, who hit a three-run homer off Johnson on Sunday, was hit by a pitch on his left elbow. Josh Bard took a called third strike on a nasty slider before rookie Callix Crabbe singled to left to score Kouzmanoff. Johnson then struck out pinch-hitter and former teammate Tony Clark to end the threat.
Johnson (1-1) walked two. Three relievers combined for three hitless innings to preserve the win.
Wolf (2-1) was gone after four innings. He allowed five runs and seven hits while striking out three and walking none.
Notes:@ D-Backs LF Eric Byrnes sat out for the second straight night with "leg issues." He also was off Thursday night in Los Angeles to rest his sore legs after starting in each of the first 21 games. ... Arizona SS Stephen Drew got the night off. ... It was Mexican Opening Night at Petco Park, so Giles had a mariachi band drop by the clubhouse before the game to play a few songs, including "Tequila."
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