Completely dominant
Johnson spot-on for Sox
Brian Johnson made sure that his spot start kept the Red Sox pitching staff on a roll, and he sent a message that he should be the primary option when the ballclub needs a fill-in starter.
The 26-year-old left-hander threw a five-hit shutout in his third major league start and the Sox extended their winning streak to six games with a 6-0 win against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park yesterday.
Johnson, making his second start of this season, struck out eight and walked none while throwing 85 strikes among his 109 pitches. He became the sixth straight Sox starter to earn a win and pitch six or more innings.
In seven starts for TripleA Pawtucket, Johnson is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA, and he used his high-80s fastball and low70s curveball to more success in the majors.
“Identical,” Johnson said about his approach. “That’s the one thing I especially talked to Kip (Bob Kipper) about, our Triple-A pitching coach, was not changing my game just because I come up here. Try to stay true to who I am and do that.”
Nonetheless, the Red Sox optioned Johnson back to the PawSox after the game because David Price will be activated from the disabled list to make his season debut tomorrow in Chicago against the White Sox.
“That’s the reality of the game and Brian’s aware of it,” manager John Farrell said. “But still take nothing away from what Brian did (yesterday). In complete command of this game.”
Johnson got help along the way. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning and made three dazzling catches in center field, including two to take away hits in the ninth. Bradley also made a leaping grab to deny Robinson Cano extra bases in the sixth. And right fielder Mookie Betts robbed slugger Nelson Cruz of a home run with a running catch in the fourth.
Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and Sandy Leon had RBI singles during a three-run first inning, and Mitch Moreland had an RBI single in the eighth.
“It’s great. He’s fun to play behind,” Bradley said about Johnson. “I’ve known B.J. for a long time playing against him (in college), playing with him. It’s pretty special getting to see him accomplish this.”
Despite earning his first career win April 18 in Toronto, Johnson wasn’t great in his first start this season (four runs on seven hits in five innings). But with Kyle Kendrick and Hector Velazquez failing in bids to be the fifth starter with Steven Wright injured, Johnson got another chance.
While extending the staff’s shutout streak to 21 innings, Johnson threw the Sox’ first individual shutout since Wright last Aug. 5 and the first at Fenway since Rich Hill on Sept. 25, 2015.
Johnson’s only previous appearance at Fenway Park was in 2012 for Single-A Lowell, and he suffered a facial fracture as a result of a line drive by the first batter and missed the rest of the season. Last year’s campaign with the PawSox included an absence to seek treatment for anxiety issues.
“Without a doubt I think you always want to come up here and do well,” said Johnson, whose father was in the stands to see him pitch for the first time in the majors. “And now that there’s obviously some stuff I’ve gone through in my career, it’s an awesome feeling.”