Johnson Keeps Diamondbacks Rolling, 10-1

Randy Johnson shut down the New York Mets with his powerful left arm and knocked out Masato Yoshii with his usually weak bat.

Johnson struck out 10 in eight dominating innings and had two hits and an RBI to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to their sixth consecutive victory, 10-1, over the Mets on Sunday at New York.

Steve Finley went four for five with two home runs, a three-run shot in the first and a two-run shot in the third.

“Any time you can get Randy runs early, it usually is lights out,” Finley said. “He is one of the most dominating pitchers in the game. His stuff was great today.”

Johnson, who entered the game nine for 90 at the plate, was involved in the Diamondbacks’ scoring in the second and third innings. With Andy Fox on second and one out in the second, Johnson lined a single to left. Fox later scored on Tony Womack’s single.

Yoshii gave up more in the third. After Finley’s two-run homer, Travis Lee and Damian Miller walked. Johnson then lined a two-out RBI single to center to make it 7-0 and knock out Yoshii (5-4).

“It was pretty much a shock to me,” Yoshii said of Johnson’s hits. “When you give up hits to the pitcher, it usually means you are giving up a lot of runs and that’s what happened.”

The way Johnson (6-2) pitched, he needed no extra help staying in the game. He gave up only a solo homer to Roger Cedeno in the fourth, four singles and one walk.

Chicago 7, St. Louis --The Cubs completed the three-game sweep at Chicago as Henry Rodriguez hit his third homer of the series and Jon Lieber pitched seven solid innings.

Mark McGwire, back in the St. Louis lineup after being hospitalized for 36 hours because of an infection in his right leg, hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning. It was the 15th homer for McGwire, who also singled in the first and went two for five after spending Friday and Saturday nights in the hospital so he could take antibiotics intravenously.

Colorado 1, Philadelphia --Larry Walker’s triple in the eighth inning was the difference at Philadelphia and helped Darryl Kile improve to 12-3 lifetime against the Phillies.

Montreal 6, San Francisco --Vladimir Guerrero and Mike Mordecai each hit two-run homers at Montreal as the Expos won their season-high fifth in a row.

Montreal had not won five in a row since winning a team-record 10 in a row from June 6-16, 1997.

The Giants lost their fourth consecutive game since giving Manager Dusty Baker his 499th career victory Wednesday.

Milwaukee 10, San Diego --Jim Abbott’s first win of the season broke the Brewers’ five-game losing streak.

The former Angel began the game at Milwaukee with 0-5 with a 7.86 earned-run average in nine games.

Cincinnati 6, Florida --Eddie Taubensee followed an intentional walk with a two-run single, capping a three-run comeback in the eighth inning at Miami.

For the third consecutive game, Marlin Manager John Boles watched from home because of a sprained neck. Third base coach Fredi Gonzalez again directed the team, with Boles expected back today against St. Louis.