Kelly Johnson goes 3-for-4 in return

By CARROLL ROGERS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Milwaukee — Kelly Johnson welcomed himself back to the Braves lineup Sunday with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs on a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Not bad, for a guy hitting .216 with five home runs and 20 RBIs when he lost his everyday second base job a month ago.

“Going through what’s been going on the last couple weeks, it’s nice to do that in your first start coming back,” Johnson said.

Chipper Jones got the day off, so manager Bobby Cox moved Martin Prado to third base and gave Johnson his first start at second base since June 28.

He is now 4-for-5, including a pinch-hit single, since returning from the disabled list on Thursday.

“I feel back to normal; I feel good,” Johnson said. “It’s nice not to have too many days before you get back in there. Get to keep some momentum going.”

Johnson spent two weeks in Class AAA Gwinnett nursing sore wrists and perhaps a bruised ego.

He made good use of the time, hitting 308 in 13 games including his two three-run homer game and working with Gwinnett hitting coach Jamie Dismuke.

“He was a big help, had some really good suggestions,” Johnson said. “Then it was about being confident, trusting yourself and knowing that you can do it.”

They worked on drills to help Johnson work a hitch out of the top of his swing. Johnson also said he’s focused on using the same mentality against right-handers that’s made him so good against left-handers. Johnson is hitting .319 against left-handers and .175 against right-handers this season.

“Sometimes, especially against right-handed pitchers, I can get kind of big, trying to do too much,” Johnson said. “I just want to try to take something from that and use it against right-handed pitching, trying to stay within yourself. ... Sometimes I catch myself wanting to do something extra here, trying to hit the ball too hard, and too far. I’ve got to get out of that.”

With Prado playing so well at second and Omar Infante due back in mid-August, Johnson might be someone the Braves try to trade for bullpen help. But Johnson is focused on other things.

“I’m not thinking about that stuff,” said Johnson, who learned how to handle trade rumors last winter. “You realize after hearing and reading trade things there are so many things that happen and are talked about behind the scenes (that) fall through.”

Jones gets day off

Jones was out of the lineup Sunday just to give him a two-day break heading into the Marlins series. The Braves are off today before opening a three-game series on Tuesday in Miami. Jones had played in 10 games in a row coming out of the All-Star break.

“It’ll recharge me real good for the Florida series,” Jones said. “I’m relatively healthy, I’m just beat up a little bit. Two days will do me a world of good.”

Church’s elbow

Right fielder Ryan Church was out of the lineup Sunday nursing a hyper-extended right elbow. He hurt it swinging at a 3-2 changeup from Yovani Gallardo on Saturday night, aggravating a previous injury.

Church first hyper-extended it three weeks ago with the Mets, after getting tripped as he crossed first base by the Phillies’ Ryan Howard. He thinks with the off day, he should be fine to go against the Marlins on Tuesday.

“It’s just one of those things I was trying to play through,” said Church, who went 0-for-2 with a walk Saturday night. “Should be fine on Tuesday, ready to go.”