Saturday, July 23, 2011

Johnson day to day with calf soreness

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/23/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson didn't know where Kelly Johnson was before Saturday evening's game, but knew the second baseman wouldn't be in the starting lineup.

"I haven't seen him yet today," Gibson said in his pregame meeting with the media. "I knew I wasn't going to play him today."

Johnson left Friday night's game with soreness in his left calf, something that Gibson said the team will follow on a day-to-day basis.

"He's been sore. But they deal with aches and pains all along, and they're usually able to resolve most of it," Gibson said.

The second baseman is hitting .218 on the season, with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs. He's played 92 games.

After hitting a two-run home run in Thursday's game against the Brewers, Johnson ran out two hard ground balls on Friday night, before being removed from the game for precautionary reasons.

"We became concerned about it, and wanted to see how it responds today," Gibson said.

The skipper said that he believed Johnson would be able to pinch-hit, but added with a wry smile, "Even if he wasn't, I would tell you he was."

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