Johnson fans five in successful first rehab start
Blue Jays righty, recovering from triceps soreness, allows one run in three innings
Josh Johnson's first Minor League rehab start went about as well as the Blue Jays could have hoped.
Johnson struck out five and walked none over three innings for Class A Advanced Dunedin on Monday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The right-hander gave up one run on three hits.
Toronto was hoping that Johnson, who has been sidelined since April 21 due to soreness in his right triceps muscle, would throw 45-50 pitches and make it through three innings. According to the Dunedin Blue Jays' radio broadcast, Johnson used all his pitches in Monday's outing.
The St. Lucie Mets' only run against Johnson came in the second inning on a base hit, a stolen base and another single to score the runner. Johnson gave up a double in the first inning and worked a perfect third frame.
Johnson was initially expected to rejoin the Blue Jays in mid-May, but the discomfort in his arm remained longer than anticipated. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons recently ruled out the possibility of Johnson starting for Toronto on Friday against Baltimore, as Johnson will now continue the process of building up his pitch count and arm strength for his eventual return to the Majors.