The Mets were going for the sweep Sunday afternoon, but ran into an immovable object, the Diamondback's Randy Johnson. Johnson simply shut the Mets down. In the 2-0 victory (box score), Johnson pitched 8 1/3 innings, giving up only five hits and one walk while striking out 14. The 14 strikeouts matches his season high.
The win gave Arizona a 36-83 record, good for the worst record in baseball. It was also their first win since August 4th. Arizona had been winless in their road trip until Sunday's game.
In the sixth inning, after Johnson struck out Todd Zeile, there were words exchanged and tempers flared. Zeile thought that Johnson glared at him after the K and was trying to show him up.
"Strike me out," Zeile said later, repeating the first line of his exchange with Johnson. "But don't try to show me up."
"What?" Zeile said Johnson replied.
"You heard me. Don't stare at me. I'm not a rookie," said Zeile, who is 24 days short of 39 and a 16-year veteran.
Zeile then said, "There were some expletives in there, too."
The Mets head to Colorado Tuesday to play the Rockies. They will play without the center of their infield. Jose Reyes and Kaz Matsui are both on the DL with their injuries.
