Johnson's strikeout landmark unable to prevent loss

NEW YORK: Arizona's Randy Johnson moved into second place on the career strikeout list but the pitcher was unable to prevent the Milwaukee Brewers from securing a fifth straight win with a 7-1 triumph over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Johnson passed Roger Clemens for second spot on the all-time list in the first inning when he struck out Mike Cameron, his first of eight strikeouts in the road game.

The landmark strikeout gave the 44-year-old lefthander 4,673, one more than Clemens but still a long way adrift of Nolan Ryan's leading total of 5,714.

"If I was to retire right now, I'd be pretty proud of where I stand in the history of the game, simply because I never imagined doing these things," Johnson told reporters.

Johnson (4-2) carried a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, but he surrendered a two-run homer to Ryan Braun that put the Brewers in front for good.

Milwaukee chased The Big Unit in the next inning, scoring another pair of runs, and added three more runs in the eighth.

Milwaukee fans saluted Johnson, who wound up allowing four runs - three earned - on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in 6 1/3 innings, with a lengthy ovation after he fanned Cameron to pass Clemens.

He also received a cheer as he left the game in the seventh.

"As a visiting player, that meant a lot," Johnson said. "That was pretty classy and I won't ever forget that."

Seth McClung (3-2) allowed one run on six hits over six innings, striking out four and walking none, to get the win. He also slapped a pair of singles off Johnson, the first two hits of his career.

"Randy Johnson's one of the greatest pitchers of all time," McClung said.

Agencies

(China Daily 06/05/2008 page24)