Marlins Like Johnson in Charge

As well as Marlin rookie right-hander Livan Hernandez pitched Sunday in Game 5, Charles Johnson was his equal at catcher, according to Hernandez.

“I give credit for my [performance] to Charles,” Hernandez said. “Charles kept me calm and helped me.”

Hernandez tied the league championship series record with 15 strikeouts in the Marlins’ 2-1 victory. He said Johnson called an excellent game, which isn’t surprising. Johnson also threw out Brave leadoff hitter Kenny Lofton, who tried to steal second base in the eighth inning.

In his third season, Johnson is already the game’s best defensive catcher and the owner of two Gold Gloves. Johnson is likely to get his third award at season’s end.

Marlin Manager Jim Leyland said Johnson’s development has been a pleasure to watch.

“It’s been a gradual process with Charles,” Leyland said. “He’s a bashful young man and I think that was part of it for a period of time.

“Now, he’s feeling his oats a little bit more and he’s totally in charge. It’s showing not only in the pitching staff but in the entire team.”

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General Manager Dave Dombrowski is, naturally, pleased with the Marlin season, but he wants more. Much more.

“If you had told me at the beginning of the season that we would be in a position where we were one game away from going to the World Series, I would have said that sounds like we had a good year,” Dombrowski said. “But when you’re in a position like we are, you’re not satisfied in that regard.

“We need to win one of our next two games to go to the World Series. I don’t think you’re ever satisfied until you win a World Series.”

TODAY’S GAME

FLORIDA’S KEVIN BROWN (16-8, 2.69 ERA) vs. ATLANTA’S TOM GLAVINE (14-7, 2.96 ERA)

Site--Turner Field, Atlanta

TV--Channel 4, 5 p.m.

* Update--Finally, Kevin Brown will pitch again. Maybe. The Marlins announced that their ace right-hander would start Game 4, then said he couldn’t because he had a stomach virus. Brown was supposed to start Game 5, but the Marlins said he still wasn’t well enough. Brown said Monday he would definitely start tonight unless lighting struck him. However, Brown said he would start Game 4 unless someone shot him, and you know how that turned out. Manager Jim Leyland might save his Game 1 winner for a possible Game 7 on Wednesday. Left-handed rookie Tony Saunders was effective in Game 3, giving up two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Game 2 winner Tom Glavine pitches with the Braves’ season on the line. Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said the veteran left-hander is the right guy for the job. We’ll find out soon enough.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

(Marlins lead series, 3-2)

* Game 1: Florida 5, Atlanta 3

* Game 2: Atlanta 7, Florida 1

* Game 3: Florida 5, Atlanta 2

* Game 4: Atlanta 4, Florida 0

* Game 5: Florida 2, Atlanta 1

* Game 6: Tonight, at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

* Game 7: Wednesday, at Atlanta, 5 p.m.*

* if necessary