Johnson's debut (updated twice)

The Rays loaded the bases against Steve Johnson with no outs in the fifth inning, and the right-hander fell behind, 2-0, to the next batter. Recipe for disaster? Make it damage control. Johnson retired Ben Zobrist on a fly ball to left-center field, witih Kelly Shoppach scoring to tie the game, and Evan Longoria grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. The breeze you just felt was Dave Johnson exhaling from the front row of the press box. Steve Johnson threw 24 pitches, 12 for strikes. Jake Arrieta was charged with two runs and five hits in four innings, with no walks and two strikeouts. He was much better after the first. Update: Johnson ran into trouble again in the sixth inning, walking two batters, but he doesn't lose his composure. Carlos Pena grounded to second, but B.J. Upton walked after hitting a long foul ball to left that almost cleared the back fence beyond the hill. Upton stole second as Craig Tatum lost control of the ball while coming out of his crouch, and he took third on a wild pitch. Pat Burrell walked with the count full to put runners on the corners, but Hank Blalock popped to short and Kelly Shoppach struck out looking. Johnson has thrown 49 pitches in two innings. He's nibbling too much and is getting some big outs when he challenges this lineup. Former supplemental pick Pedro Beato replaced Johnson, who's charged with one run and one hit, with four walks, in two innings. He also threw a wild pitch. We're still tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh.



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