• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Johnson strong as Diamondbacks top Tigers

May 19, 2008 - 12:38 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Randy Johnson tossed seven outstanding innings and Chris Young drove in three runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Mark Reynolds finished with three hits and Chris Burke scored a pair of runs for the Diamondbacks, who posted their fifth win in the last six games.

Johnson (4-1) allowed six hits and walked one while striking out five to notch his 288th career win. He worked out of trouble in each of the first five innings before finishing with two perfect frames.

"Early on, he gave up some hits but it looked like his command was there right away," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "The stuff was similar to what we have seen, yet the command was a lot better. You could see he got into a great rhythm out there and was rolling.

"Based on what he did today, this was the type of game he was looking for."

The 44-year-old lefthander, who entered Sunday's start with an 8.40 ERA over his last three starts while surrendering 24 hits in 15 combined innings, improved to 17-9 with a 2.82 ERA in 32 career interleague starts.

"I felt better warming up today and I pitched on the fifth day, so you can kind of get into a routine," Johnson said. "Endurance-wise, I felt pretty good my location was better, therefore, I didn't get hit like I did the last few starts.

"I don't know if I felt stronger today but I am pleased with today's outing. I felt good in the bullpen and was able to bring it in from the bullpen and execute."

Reynolds singled and moved to second on a wild pitch to open the fifth before Miguel Montero walked and Chris Burke singled to load the bases. Johnson struck out before Young doubled off Detroit starter Nate Robertson to plate a pair of runs and snap a scoreless tie.

"It helped that there was only one out," Young said. "With two outs, it is like if you get the hit, you get it. If you don't, you don't. But with one out, you have some options. It would have been just as good if he caught the ball.

"All I had to do then was hit a groundball of a flyball, that takes a lot of pressure off you and allows you to be loose and try to get a pitch to hit."

Young also walked with the bases loaded in the sixth to cap the scoring. The Diamondbacks' leadoff hitter, Young now has 24 RBI this season.

Robertson (1-5) was charged with all four runs in 5 2/3 innings, surrendering seven hits and issuing four walks while striking out five.

"For me, it comes down to a couple of pitches, the one with Young in the fifth, I left the changeup up," Robertson said. "The rest of what happened could have been prevented. I just didn't make a good pitch in the sixth."

The veteran lefthander, who was signed to a three-year, $21 million contract extension in the offseason, has allowed at least four earned runs in eight of nine starts this season.

"It is like a broken record but we haven't been swinging the bats well," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We had a shot right of the bat and didn't get anything out of it.

"Nate (Robertson) pitched OK; he gave us a chance. When you are fighting for your life, not giving a run inning after inning after inning, it is tough. If our offense was clicking like we thought it would be, it would have been a good enough effort for us to win."