Triple Play Helps Johnson Beat Cards

Mark McGwire hit his 21st home run, but it was a short fly ball by Big Mac that hurt the Cardinals in a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. The Cards were poised for a big inning against Randy Johnson, when they loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, and McGwire strode to the plate. He lifted a fly ball to short center field. Steve Finley caught it, and threw out Placido Polanco trying to score. Catcher Damian Miller then threw to third to retire Edgar Renteria, and Arizona had recorded its first triple play. Johnson rolled from there, striking out ten in 7 and 2/3, as he passed Cy Young on the career strikeout list, and improved to 9-1. Pat Hentgen took the loss to fall to 4-5.