Johnson Gets Ok To Start Saturday’s Game

After throwing 50 pitches from the bullpen mound before the game Thursday and feeling no pain in his sore finger, Randy Johnson was named the Mariners’ starting pitcher for the game Saturday against Toronto.

Pitching coach Nardi Contreras, who caught Johnson on Thursday, would like to see Johnson throw between 65 and 75 pitches.

“He threw the ball well,” Contreras said. “He threw the ball harder than what I was expecting.”

Johnson has missed four starts because of the tendinitis in his left middle finger. If he starts Saturday, he would likely have three starts left in the season and a chance to win 20 games for the first time. He’s currently 17-4 with a 2.32 earned-run average. His career high of 19 wins came in 1993.

Johnson is scheduled to throw 65 to 75 pitches Saturday.

Notes

The Mariners’ other 6-foot-10 pitcher, Ryan Anderson, threw in the bullpen Thursday and impressed all in attendance. “He’s got a very good delivery,” Contreras said. “The kid’s going to have a great career.” Most startling was the command Anderson had of his sharp curveball… . Russ Davis has swung the bat well in batting practice the past two days, but is still four or five days from running hard on his healing sprained ankle.