Big Unit goes 6 innings in rehab start

Randy Johnson allowed two earned runs in six innings for Triple-A Tucson on Friday night in what may be his final minor league rehabilitation outing.

The Big Unit, who had back surgery last October, gave up eight hits and a walk against Colorado Springs. Johnson struck out three and gave up a home run.

He threw 85 pitches, 59 for strikes.

"I am still searching for a few things," said Johnson, who is coming back from October back surgery. "Maybe I will find them when I get back up there to Arizona. I am looking for consistency and looking to go out there and throw all my pitches and be effective out there. That is what every pitcher is looking for."

The Diamondbacks have not set a date for Johnson to join their rotation but have said he could pitch for them as early as next week.

"When I go out there I want to be able to throw 6, 7 innings, and feel like I am in command," Johnson said. "I want to feel like I am ready to do what I need to do. I will evaluate and see how things are (Saturday)."

Before the Diamondbacks' game Friday night in Phoenix, manager Bob Melvin said the club does not want to rush Johnson.

"He's still short of a full spring, and we've said all along that each outing will be more indicative of what he needs to do the next time," Melvin said. "The (April) 18th or 19th date that we have is not for sure. If we feel like he needs another outing, we're going to err on the side of caution here."

The Diamondbacks also can afford to be patient because Edgar Gonzalez and Micah Owings have pitched well in the back end of the rotation.

"We've got two other guys that are pitching pretty well," Melvin said. "Unless there's an absolute need, if he's not 100 percent then there's no reason to do it."

In Johnson's previous outing, he went six-innings, giving up two runs and four hits against Class-A Visalia on April 8.