If nerves got to Alan Johnson during the first inning of the Colorado Rockies' game with the Chicago Cubs, they were quieted on a double play in the first inning. After throwing a slide for his first major league strike, Starlin Castro wound up on first base following a single. Darwin Barney moved him to third and gave the Cubs runners on the corners. On a 3-2 pitch, Marlon Byrd hit into a run-scoring double play. Aramis Ramirez followed with a ground out to end the inning.
The Rockies answered right back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-1 lead. Carlos Gonzalez doubled in Jonathan Herrera, who walked in his plate appearance. Troy Tulowitzki, still looking for home run No. 100, flied out before Todd Helton singled in Gonzalez. Seth Smith immediately followed with his second home run of the season, a two-run shot.
In the second inning, Alan Johnson walked the leadoff hitter, Carlos Pena. He came around to score on a Geovany Soto two-out single. Johnson lived dangerously in the third inning as he walked Starlin Castro to start the inning Unfortunately, it was too fine a line to walk--Castro moved to second on a Darwin Barney second and then scored on an Aramis Ramirez single to left. An inning-ending double play appeared in reach when Johnny Herrera received Jose Lopez's throw at second base, but he botched the throw to Helton at first, allowing a run to score.
The teams are tied at four after three innings.
Johnson's first career strikeout came against Alfonso Soriano in the second inning, which he followed with a second whiff of Soriano in the third.