Randy Johnson

reporting from washington The 6-foot-10 left-hander with perhaps the most menacing sneer and imposing mound presence in baseball history had to take a few exaggerated breaths to keep from breaking down Thursday night.

At first glance, Randy Johnson ought not to be the key player in the NL West. He pitched only 10 games last season, after all, and the Arizona Diamondbacks still won the division. They lost Livan Hernandez, who has pitched 200 innings every season of this new millennium, but they more than compensated by adding Dan Haren, who started the All-Star game for the American League last season. Yet the Diamondbacks can't match the Colorado Rockies bat for bat.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Randy Johnson had a hard time finding the strike zone in his season debut, eight months after back surgery. Still, the San Francisco Giants didn't get many good swings against him. Johnson did not give up an earned run in five innings, settling down to finish with seven strikeouts and four walks before San Francisco rallied against Arizona's bullpen for a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Monday night.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have proved to be one of baseball's best bets over the first couple of weeks of the season, but they will have their dominance tested when veteran left-hander Randy Johnson pitches against the San Diego Padres today at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks -- who won 12 of their first 16 games -- have three undefeated starting pitchers in Brandon Webb (4-0), Danny Haren (3-0) and Micah Owings (3-0), and they are hoping that Johnson can step up as a quality starter again.

PHOENIX -- Stephen Drew hit a three-run home run, Randy Johnson earned his 286th victory and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-4, Tuesday night. Drew's homer capped a five-run outburst against Adam Eaton (0-1) in the fourth inning. Johnson (2-1) went six innings, matching his longest outing, and gave up four runs, six hits and struck out six. He also surrendered two homers, walked two and hit a batter.

PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson went five shaky innings Tuesday night for his 287th career victory and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated Colorado, 8-4. Johnson (3-1) gave up four runs and nine hits, striking out four and walking none. Chris Young had three hits as the Diamondbacks hammered Colorado starter Jeff Francis (0-4), a 17-game winner for the National League champions a year ago. Francis went 4 2/3 innings, his shortest start, and gave up eight runs and 13 hits, both season highs.

PHOENIX -- No longer armed with an intimidating fastball and crackling slider, Randy Johnson is finding new ways to win. Mixing a sinker and split-finger fastball into his repertoire, Johnson pitched seven scoreless innings for his 288th victory, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, on Sunday. "Back when a lot of these guys faced him, it was fastball in, slider in," Arizona Manager Bob Melvin said.

PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson improved to 13-0 in 14 starts against the Chicago Cubs, outpitching Rich Harden in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2-0 victory on Monday night. Johnson (7-7) gave up two hits, struck out four and walked one in seven innings for his 291st victory. "That's as good a stuff as I've seen in a while," Arizona Manager Bob Melvin said. "I think there was a little extra amp today. . . . To do what he did to that club that's No. 1 in the National League in offense is pretty special."

DENVER -- Randy Johnson pitched six solid innings and singled in a run, Adam Dunn doubled in his Arizona debut and the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies, 4-2, Tuesday night. Dunn went one for three with a walk and Chad Tracy homered for Arizona, which has won two straight after a four-game skid. The Diamondbacks acquired Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday for a minor leaguer and two players to be named.

Randy Johnson and the San Francisco Giants agreed to an $8-million, one-year contract Friday, meaning the 45-year-old pitcher will go for his 300th win with a new team. Johnson, a 21-year big league veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was born in Walnut Creek, about 30 minutes from the Giants' park. He grew up in nearby Livermore. The five-time Cy Young Award winner has 295 victories after going 11-10 with a 3.91 earned-run average in 30 starts last season.