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After monster performance, Johnson back in three hole

ST. PETERSBURG -- Kelly Johnson hit third in the lineup for a second consecutive day Tuesday after hitting in the third spot for the first time in nearly two years on Monday.

Johnson went 4-for-5 with two three-run homers, six RBIs, and a stolen base Monday, becoming only the fifth player since 1949 to hit a pair of three-run homers (or more) and steal a base in the same game.

Johnson, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI double in Tuesday's 7-6 win over Miami, now ranks fourth in the American League with a .571 slugging percentage.

Evan Longoria said he hasn't been surprised about Johnson's bat -- he leads the team in home runs with 10 -- but Longoria noted that Johnson is more than just a productive hitter.

"I played against Kelly for a half a year in Toronto, and I had seen him play in the past on TV, and I know he's a talented guy, and he does a lot of things well," said Longoria, citing Johnson's alert steal of third base in Monday's game. "Even last night, him stealing third in that situation, that was a smart baseball play. That's kind of what he brings to this team, not only his ability to hit the ball, but just a total character baseball player. Being able to play multiple positions. Obviously something [Rays manager] Joe Maddon likes and he's taken to all of that really well."

Bill Chastain and Adam Berry are reporters for MLB.com. Follow Adam on Twitter at @adamdberry.
Read More: Tampa Bay Rays, Evan Longoria, Kelly Johnson, Jake Odorizzi