FORT MYERS, Fla. — Two tall left-handers took different strolls Thursday morning.
Brian Johnson casually sauntered across the Boston Red Sox clubhouse to his locker, grabbed his cellphone and checked for messages.
Meanwhile, Henry Owens was already at his locker, cleaning it out. He packed up, shook some hands and left, walking over to the minor league side of the Red Sox complex.
“The walk of shame,” Owens quipped.
It’s not a shock that Owens is being sent down. He’s not on Boston’s 40-man roster and is expected to start the season in Triple-A Pawtucket. He was one of the five players sent to the minors Thursday – with pitchers Heath Hembree and Zeke Spruill, outfielder Bryce Brentz, and infielder/outfielder Garin Cecchini. Also, pitcher Mitchell Boggs was released.
It is surprising that Johnson’s still in big-league camp since he also is expected to pitch for Pawtucket. But he’ll get at least one more start for Boston on Sunday.
Owens and Johnson were teammates last year with the Portland Sea Dogs. Both have pitched 111/3 innings in five spring training games. Owens has an 8.74 ERA and eight strikeouts. Johnson’s numbers: 2.38 and 11 strikeouts.
Both appeared in a game Tuesday, but Johnson got the start.
“That meant a lot to me,” said Johnson, who like Owens is not on the 40-man roster. “It was really exciting and I’m really appreciative. It was a good thing to see what it’s like against a very good lineup.”
Johnson pitched 3-2/3 innings against the Marlins (one hit, one run, three walks and five strikeouts).
“There were a couple times I got really erratic,” Johnson said of the walks. “Blake (Swihart, the catcher) did a great job calming me down.”
Johnson retired Giancarlo Stanton twice, on a groundout and a three-pitch strikeout.
“I didn’t realize how big he was,” Johnson said of the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Stanton, who led the National League with 37 home runs last year. “I told myself before the game that I’m not going to look at who was in the batter’s box. I was going to stay locked in on Blake’s mitt.”
That apparently worked, and Johnson gets to hang around the big leaguers a little while longer.
Owens, who is in his second major league camp, also appeared in the Marlins game: 11/3 innings, four hits, six runs (four earned), one walk, no strikeouts. The results have not been there for Owens this spring.
“There’s more work to be done, obviously,” said Manager John Farrell. “There was some inconsistency. He yanked some balls in there. He never got into a rhythm that allowed him to command both sides of the plate.”
Owens wished he could have put up better numbers, but he said the camp was still good, acclimating himself with new teammates and facing quality hitters. There’s no doubt in his mind the mechanics will improve.
“I’m close,” he said.
CECCHINI WILL be playing in Pawtucket but rarely at his usual third base, thanks to the signing of free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval to a five-year contract.
“We’re going to move (Cecchini) around defensively,” Farrell said. “With the configuration of our big league roster and Pablo entrenched at third, we’re going to look to create some defensive versatility with Garin.
“The way he swung the bat when he came up last September and the way he swung the bat this spring, it looks like his bat will be ready before a defensive opening at third base will present itself.”
Cecchini, who played for the Sea Dogs in 2013 and at Pawtucket last year, played 11 games for Boston in 2014, batting .258 (.813 OPS).
RUSNEY CASTILLO hit a walk-off home run Thursday in the bottom of the 10th inning for a 5-4 win over Minnesota.
Castillo, who missed a lot of spring training with an oblique injury, has played four games, going 4 for 10 with two home runs and a triple.
“It’s clear he has some power,” Farrell said. “Even more exciting to see, (the home run) was on a breaking ball. He went in looking for that pitch on the first pitch.”
Does that help Castillo’s chances of making the roster out of camp?
“He’s a good player. We have a lot of good players,” Farrell said. “We’ll take every day of spring training to settle on what our opening-day roster is going to be.”
Wade Miley started the game for Boston, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk over six innings, striking out six.
“He throws a lot of strikes,” Farrell said. “The last two outings for him have been very strong.”
CLOSER KOJI Uehara may not be ready for the season opener in Philadelphia on April 6. Uehara, who turns 40 next week, has a sore hamstring. He threw 63 pitches off flat ground Thursday and Farrell hopes he’s on a mound this weekend and in a game by Monday.
It’s also unclear if Christian Vazquez, the No. 1 catcher, will be ready by opening day. He was shut down last week with a sore elbow. Vazquez threw to bases Thursday during drills, but cautiously.
“We’re working up to turning him loose,” Farrell said. “By the weekend we’ll have a clearer read.”
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