National League Roundup: Big Unit looms large

? Randy Johnson showed there were no lingering effects from last week’s grueling start.

Johnson struck out his first six batters and pitched a two-hitter Monday as the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a four-game sweep with a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets.

Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson throws to New York's Vance Wilson. Johnson struck out 11 and held the Mets to two hits in the Diamondbacks' 2-0 victory Sunday at Shea Stadium in New York.

“He was a man on a mission today,” Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. “He threw 149 pitches last time out and it was hot, humid conditions today. We weren’t sure what we would get out of him today. The guys in the bullpen were on alert, but Randy handled things by himself.”

Coming off the longest outing in the majors this year Wednesday in Montreal and pitching in 89-degree heat didn’t slow the Big Unit.

“It might have affected me in the past, but it obviously didn’t affect me today,” he said.

Johnson (16-4) came within two of Jim Deshaies’ record for most strikeouts to start a game and didn’t allow a hit through five innings.

“Today’s game was a mental and physical grind,” Johnson said. “It was a 2-0 ballgame, I threw a lot of pitches the start before, and the weather was tough. I was just really focused to get through the ninth inning.”

Roger Cedeno’s chopper to third base broke up the no-hit bid with no outs in the sixth inning. Matt Williams fielded the ball but had no chance to get the speedy Cedeno, who slid into the base.

“I just tried to get it over as fast as I could,” Williams said. “He runs too good.”

New York’s only other hit was a clean single by Mo Vaughn to lead off the seventh.

Johnson struck out 11 and threw 114 pitches for his first shutout since opening day against San Diego and the 32nd of his career.

Williams homered and Craig Counsell hit an RBI double off Shawn Estes (4-9) as Arizona won for the 12th time in 14 games.

The Mets lost their fifth straight and were swept in a four-game series at home for the first time since June 1995 against Philadelphia.

Phillies 7, Dodgers 5

Philadelphia Giovanni Carrara hit Todd Pratt and Jimmy Rollins with pitches with the bases loaded. With Los Angeles leading 5-4 in the eighth, Paul Shuey (0-1) walked Placido Polanco, gave up a single to Bobby Abreu and a two-out RBI single to Travis Lee. Shuey walked Jason Michaels, loading the bases. Carrara relieved and hit Pratt on the left shoulder with his first pitch, forcing in Abreu with the go-ahead run. Two pitches later, Carrara hit Rollins in the back with a pitch. Mike Timlin (3-3) allowed one hit in two innings, and Jose Mesa got three outs for his 32nd save in 39 chances.