Marlins’ Johnson strong in loss to Cardinals
JUPITER (AP) – Florida Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson finished his first healthy spring in three years with a strong start Thursday in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Johnson, who will start the second game of the season, allowed a run and five hits in four innings to finish with a 3.23 ERA in seven Grapefruit League games – six starts.
“My changeup was lot better today,” said Johnson, who struck out 29 and walked seven in 30 2/3 innings. “I finally got some consistency with it. Hopefully it’s going to be huge for me to take me deeper into games and lower the pitch count every time out, which is pretty much what you want.”
Johnson, known for a mid-90s fastball, barely threw the changeup last year when he returned from Tommy John surgery in July and went 7-1 in 14 starts.
After giving up a home run to Colby Rasmus on a fastball in the first inning, Johnson struck out Rasmus in the third with changeups.
Right-hander Ricky Nolasco will start the season opener for the Marlins on Monday against Washington. After Johnson, Chris Volstad will get the third start.
On Thursday, manager Fredi Gonzalez said right-hander Anibal Sanchez will be the No. 4 starter and left-hander Andrew Miller will be the fifth. Miller will open the season in the bullpen and make his debut April 15, because of early off days that’ll allow the Marlins to open with four starters.
“It works out better that way because Miller has done it before out of the bullpen,” Gonzalez said.
Jorge Cantu made his first start at first base since the Marlins announced earlier this week that Emilio Bonifacio would start at third.
Cantu arrived in camp as the third baseman, but Bonifacio played so well the Marlins gave him the third job while Cantu replaced rookie Gaby Sanchez, who didn’t play well enough to win the first base job.
“I’m going to take pride in playing first base,” said Cantu, who played 129 games at third last year and 66 at first. “It’s just another position. I’m going to work hard just like I did at third base last year. Whatever is best for the club.”
Cody Ross hit his fourth homer of the spring off Todd Wellemeyer in the fifth, tying it at 2. Andy Gonzalez, who went 2-for-3, doubled and scored on Cameron Maybin’s single to give Florida a 3-2 lead.