Johnson plates eight in Bulls' rout

Dan Johnson came to bat with men on base in each of his first four plate appearances for the Durham Bulls. He produced every time.

Johnson homered twice and tied a career high with eight RBIs as the Bulls whipped the Pawtucket Red Sox, 18-1, in the completion of a suspended game Sunday.

The 30-year-old designated hitter lifted a sacrifice fly in a four-run first inning before rain halted play on Saturday night. After play resumed, he hit an RBI single in a six-run second and cranked a grand slam in the third that gave Durham a 14-0 cushion.

Johnson, who spent last season in Japan, launched a two-run shot in the fifth to cap his first two-homer game since July 19, 2008.

Needing one RBI to tie Scott McClain's 1998 team record, the Minnesota native struck out with the bases empty to end the seventh inning.

Johnson was hitless in his previous two games and had driven in just one run in the last six. But he matched the career high he set on April 11, 2004, when he also homered twice and drove in eight runs for Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League.

Joe Dillon went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs, while Desmond Jennings and Justin Ruggiano each scored four times for the Rays' Triple-A affiliate. The 18 runs were a season high for the Bulls, who totaled 20 hits in a 14-7 triumph over Norfolk on April 16.