Jim Johnson

After Jim Johnson seized the closer's role in the second half of last year and converted his final eight save chances, the Orioles knew they had a guy who could finish games if they needed him to. But there was also the possibility that Johnson could move to the starting rotation. Then there was the lower-back strain that cost him a good chunk of the spring, making it uncertain whether he would be ready for Opening Day. "I went through some periods in spring where I was kind of going, 'Boy, I don't know if he's going to quite get there,'" Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Johnson.

The Orioles certainly aren't playing their best baseball of the season, not after losing 10 of their past 13, not after starting this road trip 1-5. That's why Tuesday night's 8-6, 10-inning, sloppy victory against the Boston Red Sox resonated within the clubhouse. Maybe it was ugly, but it also was rewarding. “I try not to get too high or too low, but that's one of our better wins of the year,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “That was a real test for us a little bit.” It's a game they could have lost - maybe should have lost - and instead they pulled it out thanks to some unsung heroes.

BOSTON - Orioles closer Jim Johnson often refers to his teammates as a bunch of grinders, a group of blue-collar players who pay little attention to individual accolades and instead focus on doing the unnoticed essentials that lead to winning. Johnson uses the grinder term because it bears reference to the gritty third-liners of a hockey team (he's a die-hard New York Rangers fan), the guys who lay down hits instead of scoring goals. So when Johnson set a new Orioles single-season record with his 46th save to close out a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, he didn't get caught up in the mark.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson has been exceptionally predictable this season: He almost always shuts the door on the opposition, and he always shuts down the questioning after a game when the attention drifts toward him. On Sunday, the Orioles' regular-season home finale, featured both as Johnson picked up his league- and personal-best 50th save in Baltimore's 6-3 win against Boston. What does Johnson think about becoming just the 10th pitcher since saves became an official statistic in 1969 to log 50 in one season?

Orioles reliever Jim Johnson, who saved nine games in 2011 including his final eight opportunities, has settled his potential arbitration case with the Orioles. According to an industry source, Johnson has agreed to a 2012 contract worth $2.625 million. That is up from the $975,000 he made in 2011. It was Johnson's second shot at arbitration. He also settled last offseason. The 28-year-old Johnson, who was 6-5 with a 2.67 ERA, set career highs as an Oriole last season in wins, innings pitched (91)

Orioles closer Jim Johnson was automatic throughout most of 2012. But he loaded the bases in the wild-card game and completely imploded Sunday night, giving up five runs (four earned) while retiring just one batter in the O's 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Orioles manager Buck Showalter, for one, isn't concerned about his closer. “No, that's the easiest question I'll get tonight,” Showalter said. “It's real easy to put your faith in a guy like Jim Johnson, not only as a pitcher but as a man. He's the reason why we're out there playing this game tonight, one of the big reasons.

If there's anything fans will remember about the eighth inning of Tuesday night's All-Star Game  in Kansas City, it'll probably be seeing flamethrowers Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman light up the radar gun one after the other for the National League. Jim Johnson's work in the top half of the inning? Just another ho-hum, 1-2-3 frame for the majors' midseason leader in saves. Johnson's All-Star debut didn't come in a classic - the NL's 8-0 victory was all but sewn up halfway through the game.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson, who hasn't pitched since April 22 and spent four days in the hospital last week with food poisoning, said he threw a second bullpen session Sunday and is ready to get back into a game. “It seems like it has been a long time,” Johnson said. “But I feel fine. I feel like I am back to where I need to be.” Johnson said he threw a bullpen session Sunday - his second since returning to the team on Friday - and he felt good enough to tell manager Buck Showalter that he was ready to pitch.

After four nights at Saint Agnes Hospital, Orioles reliever Jim Johnson was finally released Friday morning after a severe case of food poisoning. Johnson, who has converted 15 straight save opportunities dating to last season, acknowledged the experience was frustrating and frightening. "A little of both, depending on the time," Johnson said. "It was pretty bad. " Doctors conducted various tests to rule out specific illnesses, and eventually, food poisoning - including when and where - was pinpointed.

Baltimore had waited for this cold, soggy day for 15 years. With anticipation in the crisp October air, the Orioles played their first home playoff game at Camden Yards in since 1997 on Sunday night, so waiting an extra two hours and 26 minutes really didn't matter too much. But Russell Martin's solo homer off O's closer Jim Johnson in the ninth inning kickstarted a five-run rally for the New York Yankees, who took Game 1 of the American League Division Series, 7-2. Game 2 is tonight at Camden Yards.