Brian Johnson was all about damage control Saturday night against
Alabama.
Florida's sophomore lefty didn't have his best stuff but limited
the Crimson Tide to two runs over five innings as the No. 5 Gators
(30-10, 13-4 Southeastern Conference) took the second game of the
series 9-2 in McKethan Stadium.
"The bottom line is he didn't give up a crooked number," UF coach
Kevin O'Sullivan said. "He gave up one there in the first and one
in the second, and he bowed his neck and made some pitches."
Johnson (5-1, 2.53 ERA) labored through the first two innings,
tossing 43 pitches and scattering seven hits, including a solo home
run from Alabama's Brandt Hendricks-the first of right fielder's
career.
But after a tough start to the evening, Florida's do-it-all lefty
settled in and didn't give up a hit over his final three innings of
work.
"He wiggled his way out of a couple of situations, but it's not
always going to be an easy ride," O'Sullivan said. "I'm proud of
the way he battled, and his damage control was amazing.
"He probably learned a lot about himself tonight."
Although Johnson struggled to find a groove early, his teammates
kept him in the game, tacking on two runs in each of the first two
innings.
Mike Zunino and Tyler Thompson each recorded RBI hits in the first
two innings while Josh Adams and Bryson Smith each plated one run
on sacrifice flies.
But like Johnson, Alabama's Adam Morgan got adjusted on the mound,
too. Morgan (4-4, 4.28) retired 11 straight Florida hitters, and 16
of the last 18 batters before being pulled with one out in the
seventh.
That's when Johnson, who stayed in the game as Florida's designated
hitter, sparked a four-run inning that put the game out of
reach.
Johnson led off the inning with a triple, his second of the season,
before the Gators' bats came to life with two outs. Following a
walk to Nolan Fontana, Zunino blasted his seventh homer of the
season. Florida's catcher smashed a hanging breaking ball on a
two-strike count for the three-run shot.
"It was huge," Preston Tucker said. "He's done a great job of
adjusting with two strikes lately... It was a really clutch hit,
and he's done a great job of that this year."
The Gators would add another run in the inning after Tucker and
Adams hit back-to-back doubles to extend the lead to 8-2.
The lead would prove insurmountable for Alabama (25-17, 8-9 SEC) as
Florida's bullpen failed to give up a run for the second straight
game, this time tossing four scoreless innings.
Greg Larson, Steven Rodriguez and freshman Keenan Kish combined to
allow only three hits and struck out six of the 17 batters they
faced.
The bullpen's two straight scoreless outings were much needed for
Florida after a few nightmarish outings during the team's recent
eight-game road trip.
"It helps a lot, especially to see them get back in the groove of
things and get some confidence," Zunino said. "Just for them to get
going is huge for us."
ETC.: In the eighth, Ben McMahan hit his first
home run of the season when he pinch hit for Johnson. ... Austin
Maddox and Daniel Pigott combined to go 0 for 8 at the plate. ...
The series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m., as freshman Karsten Whiston
will toe the rubber for Florida.
