Johnson: Buildup From Media Gets Opponents Fired Up

After losing to Kevin Brown and the San Diego Padres, 2-1, in Game 1 of the Division Series, Randy Johnson delivered a lecture of sorts to reporters, saying the frequent portraits of him as invincible and the Tuesday buildup focusing almost strictly on him provides opposing pitchers with incentive.

The Houston Astro left-hander pitched well enough to win Tuesday but is now 2-4 in the postseason, a misleading record that could easily be the opposite or better, given the quality of his performances.

“There’s always this big buildup when I pitch,” he said. “You guys tend to write more about what possibly could happen if I pitch, but it always seems to overshadow the opposing pitcher. And I know if I was Kevin Brown or [Baltimore’s] Mike Mussina last year, that would be an incentive to go out and prove all of you wrong.

“I don’t think anybody’s invincible. A lot of media tend to make me sound that way . . . and it’s just more fire for Kevin Brown or whoever you’re going to face that day when everybody makes it sound like the game is in the bag.

“I pitched a good game today, but it wasn’t good enough to win. Kevin Brown pitched a much better game and shut down a good offensive team in a dominating fashion. All you can do is tip your cap. Hopefully, I’ll get an opportunity to go out there again and be on the winning side.”

With an off day today, Shane Reynolds is scheduled to pitch Game 2 for the Astros on Thursday, with Mike Hampton going Saturday in Game 3 in San Diego. It’s suspected, however, that Houston will bring Johnson back in Game 4, especially if the Padres are up 2-1.

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Greg Vaughn had three hits and the decisive homer Tuesday, a big day for hitters named Vaughn. Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox drove in seven runs in the rout of Cleveland. “I drove in one,” Greg Vaughn said. “I’m going to have to call Mo and find out what he had for breakfast.” . . . Tony Gwynn was replaced defensively in the sixth inning after aggravating the left Achilles’ tendon injury that has bothered him since July. Gwynn felt a twinge when he doubled and scored the game’s first run in the top of that inning. “It hasn’t been hurting, but then I’ve been playing on grass recently,” he said. “I made a mistake by not wearing high tops on the turf, but I’ll be out there on Thursday for sure.”

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Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone and Padre GM Kevin Towers jabbed good-naturedly on Jim Rome’s radio show Tuesday. Malone said he was issuing a warning to the other general managers in the NL West that “there’s a new sheriff in town and the Dodgers will be back” in 1999. The tape was played for Towers, who said “the Dodgers will be eating our dust again in 1999.”