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Braun, McClung help Brewers top Diamondbacks

Jun 4, 2008 - 4:02 AM By J.R. Radcliffe PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Randy Johnson moved into second place on the career strikeout list, but Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers spoiled an otherwise good outing in a 7-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Braun belted a decisive two-run homer and Seth McClung pitched six effective innings for Milwaukee, which has won a season-high five straight games.

Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy also homered for the Brewers, who have won eight of nine overall. They are 7-1 on their nine-game homestand.

"It's just great that we're hitting on all cylinders right now," Braun said. "Offensively, defensively and pitching-wise, we're probably playing the best we have all year."

Future Hall of Famer Johnson, who entered the game tied with Roger Clemens on the all-time strikeout list, claimed sole possession of second place just two batters into his start. Johnson set down Mike Cameron on three pitches in the first for career strikeout No. 4,673 and finished his day with eight, including six over the first three innings.

Yet, the 44-year-old lefthander left the game trailing after 6 1/3 innings.

"Randy pitched great, and we didn't give him any help," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "It seemed like he made one mistake to Braun.

"As far as our hitting is concerned, we're getting decent individual at-bats, but we're just not stringing them together. I don't know if Randy can do much more to give us a chance to win."

With Milwaukee trailing, 1-0, and one on in the bottom of the sixth, Braun belted a slider from Johnson (4-2) deep into the seats in left field to give his team the lead.

"Obviously, he's one of the best pitchers to ever play the game," Braun said. "It's pretty special for us to beat him tonight."

After the Brewers added two runs in the seventh, Fielder and Hardy homered in the eighth to cap the scoring. Hardy's blast was a two-run shot.

The Milwaukee crowd gave Johnson a standing ovation shortly after he recorded the milestone strikeout, and again when he was lifted from the game following an RBI double by Joe Dillon in the seventh.

"One thing I won't forget in my career is the crowd," Johnson said. "I really appreciate that walking off, they recognized it. Walking off the mound to get a standing ovation like that, as a visiting player, that meant a lot. That's pretty classy, and I won't forget that."

Johnson yielded four runs - three earned - and six hits along with a walk.

McClung (3-2), a converted reliever making just his third start of the season, recorded his longest outing of 2008, allowing a run and six hits while striking out four. The 27-year-old righthander also had a banner day at the plate, recording his first two major league hits against Johnson.

"I really tried to simplify things," McClung said. "Is it nice to (duel with Johnson)? Yeah, it's really nice. ... Maybe I can look back and enjoy it a little bit. That guy is very, very talented, very established, Hall of Famer, first ballot. I'm just blessed that they came around and hit the way they did."

The Brewers have bounced back from a lethargic 13-16 month of May.

"Even when times were rough for us earlier in the year, nobody on our team panicked," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "We stayed patient, we understood that things would turn around and guys would get hot and our pitching would go on a run."