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In his first official outing since wearing Yankee pinstripes and in a matchup that featured the oldest pair of left-handed starting pitchers in major league history, Randy Johnson couldn't get the best of another former Yankee, David Wells. The Arizona Diamondbacks lost 10-5 to the San Diego Padres. ALSO: A health update on Conor Jackson.
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INSIDE PITCH
The 43-year-old Johnson, making his season debut for Arizona after
months of rehab following back surgery, allowed six runs and six hits in
five innings during a 10-5 loss to Wells, who turns 44 next month, and
the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.
Johnson allowed two home runs and walked four batters, two
intentionally. He also hit two others during a 97-pitch outing in which he threw
just 53 pitches for strikes. The pitches that hurt him the most seemed
to be simply left up in the strike zone, although he had a familiar
bite to his trademark slider.
"I thought everything went pretty well," said Johnson, who struck
out seven San Diego hitters. "(But) it's not the way I would have written
things up."
Johnson won 17 games for the Yankees last season, but he did most of
his work pitching with a bad back, which eventually required surgery in
October to repair a damaged disk.
"I don't want to hash out last year," said Johnson, who touched 96
mph on Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to this year. The bottom line is,
I'm looking for results. Spring training's over for me."
San Diego's Khalil Greene, who tied his career high with four hits
and also had four RBIs, said Johnson was tough to hit despite his poor
pitching line.
"He was pretty sharp," Greene said. "He was throwing hard, and his
slider had good depth on it."
PADRES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 5: Arizona suffered its fifth consecutive
loss in Randy Johnson's season debut, as the Big Unit allowed a two-run
homer to Adrian Gonzalez, a game-tying solo home run to Jose Cruz Jr.,
and then a bases-clearing, three-run double to Khalil Greene.
The Diamondbacks weren't out of it, but left-handed reliever Dana Eveland got rocked for three runs in the sixth inning to put things out
of reach. Arizona fell to 10-11 on the season.
NOTES, QUOTES
--LHP Randy Johnson's return to the Diamondbacks, with whom he
captured four consecutive Cy Young Awards, didn't generate much excitement
at the gate in Phoenix. With the NBA's Suns hosting the Lakers down the
street, Tuesday's game at Chase Field drew just 19,508, the smallest
crowd in nine home games to date.
--1B Conor Jackson had an MRI exam after aggravating a hamstring
injury on Sunday in San Francisco, but there was no further damage found.
He is only suffering from inflammation in the muscle. Jackson is
available for pinch-hit duty, but he probably won't return to the starting
lineup until Thursday, manager Bob Melvin said.
--RF Carlos Quentin, who began the year on the disabled list with a
slight labrum tear in his left shoulder, hit his first home run of the
season on Tuesday against Padres LHP David Wells.
--RHP Micah Owings, on the disabled list with a tight hamstring, is
expected to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and could make a minor
league rehab start this weekend for Class AAA Tucson, manager Bob Melvin
said.
--RHP Juan Cruz, on the disabled list with a strained triceps
muscle, will begin playing catch Wednesday or Thursday in his effort to get
back into a relief role.
--RHP Yusmeiro Petit, who lost his lone big-league start Sunday
against the Giants despite pitching well for seven innings, was optioned to
Class AAA Tucson to clear a roster spot for the return of LHP Randy
Johnson.
BY THE NUMBERS: 20 -- Wins needed by LHP Randy Johnson to reach the 300-win plateau.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know that's his antics on the mound. He wasn't
showing me up, (but) when a guy does that every time, it's like he expects
to blow the game, and when he doesn't blow it, he's happy for it." --
Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez on Diamondbacks closer Jose Valverde, whose
wild celebratory gestures on the mound often rub hitters the wrong way.
MEDICAL WATCH:
1B Conor Jackson (pulled right hamstring) left the game April 22. He
is day-to-day.
RHP Juan Cruz (triceps strain) went on the disabled list on April
21. He might begin playing catch April 25 or April 26.
RHP Micah Owings (right hamstring pull) went on the disabled list on
April 21. He is expected to throw a bullpen session on April 25.
LHP Randy Johnson (back surgery in October to repair a herniated
disk) was activated from the disabled list on April 24.
OF Jeff DaVanon (left ankle, right shoulder surgery) was expected to
get a cortisone shot in mid-April to help him hit from the left side of
the plate. He started the season on the disabled list.
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