Johnson steps easy in his return to field

DETROIT -- He returned from a rehabilitation trip to the minors with a new-look soul patch beneath his lower lip and a healthy right foot.

The latter, of course, was of more importance to the Rays.

Russ Johnson was activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday and started his first game of the season against the Tigers at Comerica Park fewer than 24 hours later.

"I just want to go out and help, do something," Johnson said. "I think that's always been my goal."

Johnson won the starting job at third in the final week of spring training but strained a tendon in his right foot while running out a ground ball March 27.

Though he declared himself fit to appear in the season opener, Johnson now admits he needed about eight days for the bruise on the bottom of his foot to go away and a couple more for the swelling to subside.

"I think it was the best thing to do," Johnson said. "It's not an injury that you want to play around with. I think it was the best thing to do. It's not an injury that you want to play around with."

Bobby Smith filled in at third while Johnson was out and hit .175 with 17 strikeouts. Johnson hit .312 in eight rehab starts with Double-A Orlando and Triple-A Durham, hitting safely in all but one game.

"I hope he got enough at-bats," manager Hal McRae said. "The intent was to get enough at-bats so he wouldn't be rusty when he got back. But we don't know."

PLAYING IT SAFE: Scheduled to pitch Tuesday, Paul Wilson instead will make his next start against the Orioles on Saturday.

That gives him and his sore right shoulder eight days between starts.

Wilson said he began feeling sore after a seven-inning outing against the Orioles on April 10.

"I had a lot more soreness than I usually do," he said. "I don't know if it was the cold or what. Who knows?"

The Rays are playing it safe because of Wilson's history of arm and shoulder troubles and because it's early in the season. He had shoulder surgery on a torn labrum in 1997 and elbow surgery in 1999.

"I hate missing starts and I hate being pushed back," said Wilson, who is scheduled to throw in the bullpen today. "Just because we have injuries and we work back from them doesn't mean that we're going to miss out on all the normal soreness and the aches and pains that everybody else gets."

SAVVY VETERAN: Tom Martin was just getting settled in when the Rays called Monday.

"My plan was to be (in Durham) for the season, help that team win and get them a (championship) ring," the 32-year-old relief pitcher said.

The Rays purchased Martin's contract from Triple-A Durham after optioning Travis Phelps so he could work on his sinker.

"Travis needs to go down to work on some things," McRae said. "And Martin was throwing the best in the pen."

Martin, 8-5 with a 5.32 ERA and two saves in 120 career major-league games, appeared in two spring games before being reassigned to minor-league camp and then Durham, where he had 2 saves, 6 strikeouts and 1 walk in 31/3 innings in four appearances.

"It took a lot of work for me to get where I am now," said Martin, who has pitched for the Astros, Indians and Mets during his four-plus years of major-league service. "I've got to prove to these guys that I can still get guys out. I've just got to do it at a different level like I did before."

ODDS AND ENDS: McRae said the addition of Martin, the third left-hander in the bullpen, might allow rookie Steve Kent to occasionally extend to three innings. ... The Rays released minor-league catcher Kevin Brown. ... Centerfielder Randy Winn got a day off. He was replaced by Jason Conti. ... Smith will spell leftfielder Jason Tyner today. ... Pitching prospect Dewon Brazelton, the 2001 first-round pick now with Double-A Orlando, has not allowed an earned run in his past 11 innings.