http://www2.tbo.com/sports/rays/2012...eak-ar-403845/
Rays notes: Johnson extends hit streak

By ROGER MOONEY | The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 15, 2012
» *Comments | Post a Comment
TORONTO --
Tampa Bay Rays INF Elliot Johnson extended his career-best hitting streak Monday to six games with an RBI single during the fifth inning of Monday's game with the Blue Jays. He credits the success to consistent playing time.

Including Monday, Johnson has started the past six games. He was 8-for-16 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and five runs scored prior to the game.

"There's probably a lot of variables that go into the reasons why (Maddon) is doing what he's doing," Johnson said of his increased starts. "I think the fact that I played well made it easier for him to put me in there."

In the past, Johnson has received starts when Maddon thought he had a favorable matchup with the pitcher. But with the Rays injuries, Maddon wants Johnson's glove in the lineup to help bolster the defense.

Can Johnson play himself into an everyday player?

"I don't know," Maddon said. "He's doing well right now. I don't want to press the envelope. He can be as good as he wants to be as he continues to play the entire game and not just try to play the big game offensively."

Johnson's problem in the past has been his desire to hit everything hard. The Rays would rather he act more like a leadoff hitter, show more patience at the plate and work the count. Johnson said he is trying to do that.

"I've always known that I have the ability to (play everyday), it's just a matter of consistency at the plate," Johnson said. "I can catch the ball. I can throw the ball, and I can hit it sometimes. It's just the sometimes part that can't be. It can't be sometimes, it has to be regularly. It has to be contribute today somehow, someway."

http://www2.tbo.com/sports/rays/2012...eak-ar-403845/