Chris Johnson out of Braves lineup a second day
PHILADELPHIA – After a rough stretch at the plate, Chris Johnson was out of the Braves lineup for the second day in a row Monday for a series opener against the Phillies.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the third baseman would play the rest of the four-game series, and hitting coach Greg Walker was confident Johnson would be fine once he redirects his intensity and recent frustrations.
Johnson was hitless in three of his past four games including a pair of four-strikeout games.
“He’s just fighting himself a little bit right now,” Walker said. “We’re trying to get him to get the fight back between him and the pitcher.”
Gonzalez said, “He’s fine. Just give him a couple of days.”
Johnson started and batted fourth in the Braves’ order in each of the first 11 games until Sunday. Gonzalez and the coaches discussed hitting Johnson in that cleanup spot during spring training and agreed it made sense because he tended to put the ball in play and wouldn’t alter his approach and try to become a power hitter.
The early results haven’t been what they hoped for: Johnson hit .244 with one homer, three RBIs, one walk and 14 strikeouts before Monday. He had a pair of four-strikeout games Thursday against the Mets and Saturday against the Nationals, after recording only one four-strikeout game previously in his major league career.
After going 8-for-27 (.296) with three doubles and a homer in his first seven games, Johnson was 3-for-18 with one double and eight strikeouts in his past four games.
And after ranking among National League leaders last season with a .336 average in 116 at-bats with runners in scoring position, Johnson was 1-for-10 with no walks and five strikeouts in those situations this season.
“Just a blip,” Walker said. “He had one terrible game and then he had a great game, then turned around and had a bad one again. You kind of see his body language and all right now.
“He’ll work through it. He’s really good. Just got to get the fight back where it needs to be.”
Johnson wasn’t in the media-accessible area of the clubhouse prior to batting practice Monday.
With Johnson out of the lineup, utility infielder Ramiro Pena started at third base Sunday and Monday.
