1. Johnson loses role as closer

Braves right-hander Jim Johnson no longer is the team’s primary closer after his recent struggles prompted manager Brian Snitker to try others in the role. Johnson blew his major league-high eighth save and his third in his last seven chances Saturday against the Phillies.

PHILADELPHIA — Braves right-hander Jim Johnson no longer is the team’s primary closer after his recent struggles prompted manager Brian Snitker to try others in the role.

Johnson blew his major league-high eighth save and his third in his last seven chances Saturday against the Phillies.

On Sunday, Johnson pitched the eighth inning with the score tied and Snitker said he was holding back right-hander Arodys Vizcaino for a possible save situation.

It didn’t come to that. The Phillies broke the tie with Freddy Galvis’ game-winning single off Akeel Morris in the bottom of the ninth. Snitker said the next time the Braves need a save, it won’t necessarily be Johnson taking the mound.

“Probably mix and match maybe and see where we are at in the (opposing) lineups ... and give some (other) guys a chance,” Snitker said.

Johnson’s performance Sunday did little to instill new confidence.

After Aaron Altherr reached first on Matt Adams’ error to lead off the eighth, Johnson threw a wild pitch to send Altherr into scoring position. Johnson retired clean-up hitter Nick Williams but then walked Tommy Joseph before Snit- ker replaced him.

Entering the game, John- son had a 5.32 ERA in 24 appearances with a .345 opponents’ batting average.

Sometimes statistics don’t precisely reflect perfor- mance, because of luck or otherafter Saturday circumstances.night’s loss,But Johnson said that’s not the case“I thinkwith him.they pretty much sum it up,” Johnson said. “I haven’t been throwing as many quality pitches as I should be and I’m paying the price for it.”

Following that game, Snit- ker said, “I don’t think we are there yet,” when asked if Johnson was in jeopardy of losing the closer job. The team’s thinking then changed overnight.

Johnson, 34, has been the team’s primary closer for at least part of the past three seasons. He moved into the role during the 2015 season before the Braves traded him to the Dodgers. The Braves then signed Johnson to a one-year, $2.5 million contract for the 2016 season and a two-year, $10 million extension last October.

savesIn 2015in 13 Johnson chances had for ninethe Braves with an overall 2.25 ERA. He took over as primary closer last season after Vizcaino went on the disabled list and had 20 saves in 23 chances with a 3.06 ERA overall. This year, Johnson is 22-for-30 on saves with a 4.22 ERA in all situations.

Snitker said he expects that Johnson will be “fine” with the reduced role. “He’s a pro,” Snitker said. “He’s a gamer.”

the Vizcaino,Braves’ 26, primarytook over closer as and converted nine of 10 save chances after the team traded Johnson in 2015.

Vizcaino began last season as the closer and con- verted 10 of 13 save oppor- tunities before going on the disabled list.

“He has stuff to do that role,” Snitker said. “And we just kind of mix and match and swap it around and see who’s rested and maybe where we are at in the order and try to piece that thing together and make it happen.”