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LHP Johnson makes season debut for Diamondbacks

Apr 24, 2007 - 2:32 PM San Diego (11-8) at Arizona (10-10) 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Randy Johnson will make his season debut when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old lefthander, who had back surgery at the end of last season, is making his return to Arizona where he pitched from 1999-2004, winning a World Series with the team in 2001.

Johnson was acquired from the New York Yankees during the offseason after winning 17 games in each of his two seasons in the Bronx. The 6-10 lefthander, who has 280 career wins, has good career numbers against San Diego with a 14-3 record and 2.07 ERA in 22 appearances - 21 starts.

The Padres will counter with David Wells (0-1, 5.06), also a 43-year-old lefthander. Wells started against the Diamondbacks last Wednesday and was sharp, allowing two runs and three hits in seven innings. The 230-game winner started two games against Arizona last season, going 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA.

Adrian Gonzalez leads the Padres with five home runs and 17 RBI while Marcus Giles, who has an 11-game hit streak, leads the club with a .347 (26-for-75) batting average.

Eric Byrnes, who had a career-high 25 stolen bases with Arizona a year ago, already has six steals this season and also leads the team with three home runs.

Arizona is trying to avoid its fifth consecutive loss and seventh defeat in eight games. The team has scored a total of three runs over its last three games.