PIERCE JOHNSON NEWS

Locks down eighth save Johnson picked up the save Wednesday against the Reds, striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

Impact Johnson relieved Riley Pint in the ninth inning, inheriting runners on second and third, coaxing a pop-out from Wil Myers before striking out Jose Barrero to end the game. Johnson is now 8-for-11 in save opportunities. He's managed to stave off Daniel Bard for the ninth-inning job despite a 5.29 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through 17 innings this season.

MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Escapes with save Johnson allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one inning of work against the Rockies on Monday. He earned a save but did not record a strikeout.

Impact Johnson entered a 9-7 game in the ninth inning and flirted with danger. He gave up a two-out RBI single to Nick Senzel before closing out the one-run game with a pair of runners on base. Johnson has now converted all seven of his save opportunities despite a 5.51 ERA through 16.1 innings.

MAY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches sixth save Johnson picked up the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Pirates. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over one inning scoreless inning.

Impact Johnson worked around a walk and a two-out double to close out a one-run victory and earn his sixth save this season. The 32-year-old Johnson is now a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities despite a subpar 4.40 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. Johnson has been the Rockies' primary closer, while Daniel Bard works lower-leverage situations. Even if Johnson can hold off Bard in the ninth inning, it's hard to put much faith in any reliever pitching in Coors Field.

MAY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches fifth save Johnson gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

Impact Daniel Bard is being eased back into action after returning to the bullpen Wednesday, allowing Johnson to continue serving as the Rockies' closer for the time being. The 31-year-old righty has an 8.10 ERA at home but a 1.35 mark on the road after Saturday's appearance, and he's a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances with a 20:8 K:BB through 13.1 innings. Even if Bard does take back ninth-inning duties in the near future, Johnson should remain in a high-leverage role for Colorado.

MAY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Locks up fourth save Johnson picked up the save Tuesday against Milwaukee. He did not allow a run while surrendering one hit in one inning of work.

Impact Johnson gave up a one-out double, but shut the door with a ground out and a strikeout for his fourth save. The righty is piling up the punchouts with 17 in his first 11.1 innings. He is perfect in save situations as well, but sports a career-high 1.68 WHIP.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes loss Tuesday Johnson (0-1) was charged with the loss Tuesday against the Cardinals after he allowed three runs on three hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.

Impact Johnson entered for the ninth inning with the game tied 6-6 only to surrender a home run to Nolan Gorman on his first pitch, and St. Louis then struck for two more runs. The right-hander has served as Colorado's closer to begin the season with Daniel Bard on the injured list due to anxiety, and he has three saves with four runs allowed and a 7:4 K:BB across 4.2 innings.

APRIL 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gorman homers in 9th as Cardinals top Rockies 9-6

Nolan Gorman sparked St. Louis’ three-run ninth inning with a tiebreaking solo homer off Pierce Johnson, and the Cardinals topped the Colorado Rockies 9-6

APRIL 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diaz, Profar homer, Rockies beat Nationals 7-6

Elías Díaz had three hits, including his first home run of the season, Jurickson Profar hit his first home run with Colorado and the Rockies weathered shaky pitching to beat Washin...

APRIL 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures save Johnson issued a walk in a scoreless inning and earned a save over the Nationals on Sunday.

Impact Johnson worked around a leadoff walk to finish off the 7-6 victory. He's seemingly locked into Colorado's closer role at the moment, converting on all three of his attempts in four total appearances. During that stretch, he's allowed one run with a 7:2 K:BB.

APRIL 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches second save Johnson picked up a save against the Nationals on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Johnson was called upon in the ninth inning to close out a rare 1-0 Coors Field game, and he succeeded with ease, needing just nine pitches -- eight of which were strikes -- to retire the side in order. The right-hander struck out two in the frame, giving him seven punchouts over three innings so far this season. Daniel Bard was expected to open the season as the Rockies' closer, but he's currently on the injured list while he deals with anxiety. Johnson has stepped in to notch both of Colorado's saves thus far, and he has an opportunity to dig his heels into the closer role with Bard's timeline for a return uncertain.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Freeland leads Rockies to 1-0 win over Nats in home opener

Kyle Freeland pitched four-hit ball over 6 2/3 innings, Jurickson Profar made several nifty catches in left field and the Colorado Rockies won their home opener 1-0 over the Washin...

APRIL 6, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns Colorado's first save Johnson allowed one hit in a scoreless inning against the Padres on Friday. He struck out two and earned the save.

Impact Johnson worked around a leadoff single and made quick work of the Padres to close out the 4-1 win. He fired 14 of 19 pitches for strikes, including three whiffs, all coming against the curveball. With Daniel Bard (not injury related) unavailable, Johnson got the first save opportunity while Brent Suter and Brad Hand pitched the seventh and eight frames, respectively.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pitches Saturday Johnson (knee) worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless seventh inning in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Mariners in Cactus League play.

Impact Johnson was making his first Cactus League appearance in just under a week after experiencing right knee soreness following his previous outing. The knee issue didn't dramatically derail Johnson during his buildup program, so he looks like he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knee not an issue Johnson said Monday that the right knee injury which forced him from an appearance Sunday isn't a concern, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Impact Johnson's knee was a little sore, but it sounds like he was lifted Sunday in large part because he needed 32 pitches to record just two outs. The Rockies are counting on the right-hander to be one of their high-leverage relievers this season, so they'll hope he can get sharper before Opening Day.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies' Pierce Johnson, Brent Suter counted on to cure bullpen blues SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — “Well, I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long.”

FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Rockies sign reliever Pierce Johnson to $5M, 1-year deal DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies added right-hander Pierce Johnson to their bullpen as they signed the Denver native to a $5 million, one-...

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • THESTAR.COM

Rockies sign reliever Pierce Johnson to $5M, 1-year deal

The Colorado Rockies added right-hander Pierce Johnson to their bullpen as they signed the Denver native to a $5 million

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mets stars shine, NY saves season with 7-3 win over Padres

Pete Alonso launched a tiebreaking homer and Jacob deGrom pitched well enough to help save the New York Mets’ season with a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres that evened their...

OCTOBER 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giants finish at .500 for 1st time, top playoff-bound Padres

David Villar hit two home runs and Austin Slater also connected for the San Francisco Giants, who beat the playoff-bound San Diego Padres 8-1 in a regular-season finale

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blitzed by Dodgers Johnson (1-2) took the loss and was charged with a blown save against the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over two...

Impact San Diego held a one-run lead when Johnson entered in the sixth inning, but he surrendered a hit to each of the first three batters he faced to allow Los Angeles to tie the score. The righty nearly got out of the frame without further damage, but a two-out, two-run single off the bat of Miguel Vargas put the Dodgers ahead and resulted in Johnson's departure. It was the second time this season Johnson has allowed three runs in an appearance, though he's held the opponent scoreless in each of his other 11 outings.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Padres notes: A fresh Pierce Johnson a 'game-changer,' planning to plan Padres reliever Pierce Johnson feeling fresh after losing a big chunk of 2022 to injury

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Padres beat Dodgers 4-3 in 10 to reduce magic number to 4

Jorge Alfaro drew a bases-loaded walk from Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the 10th inning and the San Diego Padres beat the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 to reduce their...

SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trejo, Tovar lead young Rockies over Padres 4-3 in 10

Rookie Alan Trejo singled in the winning run in the 10th inning, highly touted prospect Ezequiel Tovar picked up hits on the first two pitches he saw in the big leagues, and the yo...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Padres notes: Machado has been his team's only MVP candidate; Alfaro makes rare start; Johnson standing by Manny Machado hasn't had Nolan Arenado hitting behind him; Bob Melvin changes mind on Friday's catcher

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Freeman, Dodgers beat Padres 8-4; magic number down to 4

Freddie Freeman drove in four runs on four hits, including a two-run homer, and Trea Turner hit a go-ahead, three-run double for the Los Angeles Dodgers in an 8-4 win against the S...

SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS