Johnson finding his stroke after DL stint

MILWAUKEE -- When Kelly Johnson returned from a month-long stint on the disabled list, he initially struggled to regain the offensive consistency that he had displayed before straining his right oblique muscle May 13. But the Braves' veteran utility man seems to be rounding into form as the All-Star break approaches.

Johnson recorded his second three-RBI performance in three days during Monday night's 5-3 win over the Brewers at Miller Park. His towering two-run home run in the first inning off Kyle Lohse jumpstarted the Atlanta offense, which had scored as many as four runs in just four of the previous 16 games.

"We had a lot guys who swung the bat well, but [Johnson] really got us going," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Video: ATL@MIL: Johnson singles home Maybin

Johnson batted .298 with four home runs and a .922 OPS in 15 games before the injury. He entered Saturday having hit .254 with one-extra-base hit (a double) and a .531 OPS in the first 21 games since coming off the DL.

But with four hits, including Monday's homer which Statcast™ projected to travel 435 feet, in his past seven at-bats, Johnson has provided some indication that he might be entering a hot streak similar to the one he produced before being sidelined.