Johnson Just Loves It in the Great Indoors

Randy Johnson pitched a six-hitter for his fourth consecutive shutout in the Astrodome since Houston acquired him, leading the Astros to a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday at Houston.

Derek Bell’s sixth-inning homer accounted for the only run.

“You realize that when you have only one run, you’ve got to hold on,” Johnson said. “It was a well-pitched game by them. The only objective I have is to win the game. If I give up five runs I don’t care as long as we score six.”

Johnson (7-1) struck out 14 and walked one--intentionally. It was his 17th double-digit strikeout game this season and 100th of his career.

Only Nolan Ryan, with 215, has more double-digit strikeout games.

Since Houston got Johnson from Seattle on July 31, he has 85 strikeouts in eight starts, reaching double digits four times. His earned-run average is 1.00.

Cincinnati starter Steve Parris (4-4), who entered with a three-game winning streak, doesn’t have those numbers, but still managed to shut down Houston. He allowed four hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked two.

Johnson escaped trouble in the eighth after Brook Fordyce led off with a double. Pinch-runner Pat Watkins took third as Johnson threw wildly to first for an error on an appeal play, but pinch-hitter Melvin Nieves, Reggie Sanders and Chris Stynes all struck out.

“That was an impressive eighth inning,” Jeff Bagwell said. “He picked it up. His fastball was 2-3 miles per hour faster and his slider was sharper. That’s what you have to do.”

New York 8, Atlanta 7--Edgardo Alfonzo’s two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning rallied the Mets at New York and moved them into a tie with the Cubs for the lead in the NL wild-card race.

Before Alfonzo’s homer, which gave the Mets their major league-leading 32nd one-run victory, there was a 1-hour 48-minute rain delay.

San Francisco 5, San Diego 4--Ellis Burks hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and Jose Mesa escaped a bases-loaded jam at San Diego as the Giants moved within two games of the lead in the wild-card race.

The NL West-leading Padres stranded 12 runners and suffered their first home loss in 15 games against a division rival. They also lost the chance to tie Atlanta (92-52) for the NL’s best record.

San Francisco’s Julian Tavarez (4-3) retired the first two batters in the eighth, the second one thanks to a nice backhanded play by third baseman Bill Mueller on Jim Leyritz’s sharp grounder. Quilvio Veras walked, and Tony Gwynn singled to center, with Veras taking third.

Mesa came on and walked Ken Caminiti, who was 3 for 4 with his 28th homer, then struck out Greg Vaughn on three pitches.

Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his 35th save.

Colorado 15, Florida 10--Larry Walker hit two solo homers and Vinny Castilla went four for five with a homer and three RBIs for the Rockies at Denver.

Walker went three for four, raised his home run total to 22 and increased his NL-leading batting average to .354.

Milwaukee 6, Pittsburgh 3--Marc Newfield’s two-run pinch-hit homer broke a seventh-inning tie for the Brewers at Pittsburgh. It was the Pirates’ ninth loss in 10 games.