Johnson allowed seven runs on eights hits, including three homers, in a loss for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday.
A rough outing for Johnson, who had been on a roll entering Saturday's game, having allowed just six earned runs over his previous five starts spanning 30.2 innings. The good stretch of pitching has featured the pinpoint control that characterized the left-hander's rise through the system. Given his two-month layoff to address anxiety issues, Johnson still has a lot of innings left in his arm. The Red Sox will likely call him up when rosters expand in September.