Seattle’s Johnson Wins 16th in a Row

Randy Johnson won his 16th consecutive decision--one short of the American League record--and Ken Griffey Jr. hit his major-league leading 14th homer as the Mariners defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-1, on Friday at Seattle.

Johnson, who hasn’t lost in 24 starts since Aug. 1, 1995, held the Brewers to three hits and one run in eight innings. He struck out 11, the 70th time in his career that he has struck out 10 or more in a game, the second this season following back surgery last September.

If Johnson wins his next decision, he will tie the AL of 17 consecutive shared by Cleveland’s Johnny Allen (1936-37) and Baltimore’s Dave McNally (1968-69). The major-league mark for consecutive decisions won is 24 by Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants in 1936-37.

Griffey, who set a major-league record with 13 homers in April, hit a three-run drive in the sixth. Dan Wilson and Alex Rodriguez also homered for the Mariners, while Matt Mieske homered for Milwaukee.

Boston 5, Texas 4--John Valentin singled home the go-ahead run off John Wetteland with two outs in the ninth inning as the Red Sox defeated the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

American League MVP Juan Gonzalez went 0 for five in his first game of the season for Texas. Gonzalez, who underwent surgery Feb. 8 for a torn ligament in his left thumb sustained playing winter ball, had a strikeout and four fly-ball outs.

He just missed a homer in the ninth, sending a pitch from Heath Slocumb just to the foul side of the pole in left.

Danny Patterson (2-3) walked Mo Vaughn leading off the ninth, and pinch-runner Jeff Frye took second on a groundout. One out later, Valentin singled to center.

Minnesota 3, Toronto 2--Chuck Knoblauch’s single scored Todd Walker with the winning run in the 10th inning as the Twins ended an eight-game losing streak with the victory at Toronto.

Walker led off the inning with a single off Tim Crabtree (1-2), and Pat Meares moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

After Brent Brede’s groundout moved Walker to third, Knoblauch hit a high chopper that bounced over third baseman Ed Sprague and scored Walker.

Twin starter Brad Radke (2-1) pitched nine innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

Rick Aguilera, making his 500th career appearance, pitched the 10th for his fifth save of the season. The game ended when pinch-runner Juan Samuel was thrown out trying to steal second.

New York 9, Kansas City 1--Tino Martinez, who set the major-league record for runs batted in during the first month of the season, homered in his second at-bat in May and Bernie Williams added a two-run homer as the Yankees won at Kansas City.

Martinez, who drove in 34 runs in April, made the score 2-0 with his 10th home run in the fourth. Williams led off the inning with a double, the first hit given up by Jim Pittsley (0-2).

Williams gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead and chased Pittsley in the eighth with his third homer of the season. The Yankees added five runs in the ninth, four of them unearned because of errors Jay Bell and Randy Veres.

Yankee starter David Cone (3-2) pitched seven strong innings, giving up one run on five hits. The Royals scored their only run in the fifth on Johnny Damon’s run-scoring double.

Detroit at Cleveland--The game between the Tigers and Indians was rained out with no makeup date scheduled.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Mike Bordick Baltimore 2 for 4, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles Bernie Williams New York 2 for 3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, double, homer C. Knoblauch Minnesota 2 for 5, triple, game-winning single in 10th

Player Team’s Result Mike Bordick Win Bernie Williams Win C. Knoblauch Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Randy Johnson Seattle 8 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 11 strikeouts Win Jimmy Key Baltimore 8 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts Win Brad Radke Minnesota 9 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 8 strikeouts Win

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