Burn baby burn

Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona Diamondbacks' Desi Wilson (45) awaits the throw at first base in an attempted pickoff of University of Arizona's Mike Meyer (4) in the sixth inning at Tucson Electric Park Wednesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks moved out of the expansion category as they opened their spring training with 6-foot-10 southpaw fireballer Randy Johnson on the hill. In his Diamondbacks debut, Johnson's first victims were the Arizona Wildcats.

In a game that saw the Wildcats go hitless for the first four innings while their pitching staff held the Diamondbacks to just one run through the first six innings, UA still fell 10-2 as its pitchers gave up a combined nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

The score aside, it still was a great day of baseball and the start of a new relationship between the Wildcats and the Diamondbacks, who will look to play this game annually to open Diamondbacks spring training.

Johnson, who pitched the first two innings of the game, struck out four of the six UA hitters he faced, including freshman power hitter Shelley Duncan.

"Going against Randy Johnson, there was no intimidation until I stepped in the box and looked at him. But once I got over that I was ready," Duncan said. "I was just thinking he was going to throw a bunch of fastballs because that is what he did to the hitters before me. I just wanted to swing as hard as I can and if I make contact than good. The 'if' didn't work for me today."

Johnson said it felt good to get out there and pitch, even if his opponent was not another National League team.

"I don't ever hold back," he said. "I am out there to get ready for the season. If I put my 31 pitches on the back burner than it would have been a waste of my time. It was exciting. I don't think it will be as exciting as when I make my first start in L.A. And it will probably be more exciting when I start in Bank One."

Three UA pitchers, junior Mike Crawford, freshman Ben Diggins and sophomore Wesley Zlotoff, limited the eventual opening day lineup of the Diamondbacks to just four hits and no runs. The Diamondbacks' lineup included returnees Travis Lee, Matt Williams, Jay Bell and Tony Batista, plus newcomers Steve Finley, Luis Gonzalez and Tony Womack. It was the Diamondbacks' reserves, though, who took over and beat UA pitchers Duncan and junior Mike Meyer.

"We knew that there was nothing to lose," Crawford said. "It is a showcase, your dream game and you have to make the most of it. Luckily, today I was hitting my spots."

As for the Diamondbacks' take on the Wildcats, both Johnson and Womack said they were impressed that they didn't see any nervousness and only a little intimidation.

"I saw a bunch of young kids swinging the bats. I didn't see any fear in them. I am sure it was fun for them and it was fun for me, too," Johnson said.

Womack then added, "They went right at me. I have to tip my hat to that kid (Crawford). He has a nice changeup. If they think like I do and that it's still baseball, they shouldn't be intimidated. But who wouldn't be facing Randy? You have to try your best and dig in and say let's go. Hey, it's baseball."

While the Diamondbacks may be just opening their preseason, the Wildcats have to get back to tending to their own business and that begins Friday night at Tulane in their last tuneup series before the Pacific 10 Conference season opens March 12 at home against UCLA.