TORONTO -- In the top of the ninth inning Tuesday night, three outs from his first major-league win, Brian Johnson sat next to Mookie Betts in the Boston Red Sox's dugout and talked about old times together in the minors.
After all, Johnson's journey is what made this night so special.
Drafted 31st overall by the Red Sox in 2012, Johnson always figured it would be smooth sailing to the big leagues. But as recently as last summer, he was almost overwhelmed by self-doubt over whether he would see the bright lights of a major-league ballpark ever again.