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TORONTO -- Josh Johnson doesnt have the answers. After another horrid start, the Toronto Blue Jays starter didnt know what he was doing wrong this season or in Saturdays 8-6 loss to the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. "Ive just got to make better pitches," he said. "I made some OK pitches, but then I made some terrible ones as well." Johnson fell to 1-7 and saw his earned-run average rise to 6.08 as he gave up seven runs on seven hits, including three home runs. It was his third straight bad start and fifth consecutive loss in as many appearances. "Hes scuffling, thats an understatement," manager John Gibbons said. "Hes feeling it. I mean, hes human. You feel for the guy. And hes never struggled a whole lot in his career. Hes trying to settle in, hes trying to contribute, and it hasnt gone well for him. Its tough. Theres really nowhere to hide out there." Johnson tried to take a "different mind-set" onto the mound Saturday afternoon after lasting just two innings Monday. His pre-game bullpen session admittedly wasnt sharp, but the right-hander insisted he didnt think, "Here we go again" after surrendering back-to-back singles to start the game. "Sometimes that happens," Johnson said. "Seems like its happened a lot more with me, but its part of the game." When Astros designated hitter Chris Carter hit a three-run home run before Johnson recorded an out, it marked the sixth straight start in which he allowed multiple runs in the first inning a base runner got on. Pitching coach Pete Walker said he and his staff were "certainly aware" of that trend. But throwing from the stretch isnt Johnsons only problem, as Gibbons pointed out that he allowed solo home runs to Justin Maxwell and Matt Dominguez from the windup. Where Johnsons issues stem from could be mechanical or mental. More likely, its a combination of both, as the 29-year-old said his confidence is "not real high" right now. "They all go through those stretches where confidence becomes an issue," Gibbons said. "Youve got to deal with it. Thats part of this business. I know hes scrambling, hes got to be scrambling trying to figure it out because youll see him: Hell pitch some hitters good and then lose it and get hit pretty hard." Johnson tried to work on keeping his throwing motion more direct, driving down his right hip instead of falling off the mound toward first base. He consciously thought about it for all 5 2/3 innings Saturday. "Id do it for a couple pitches and then I wouldnt do it for a couple," Johnson said. "That inconsistency was still there a little bit." Consistency has been hard to find for the Blue Jays this season, and that goes beyond Johnsons struggles. They managed to put six runs on the board Saturday, finally getting to Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, but it wasnt enough. Keuchel, who lasted until Jose Bautistas three-run homer in the eighth, said the Blue Jays had as good a lineup as he has seen in the major leagues. Toronto showed it by out-hitting Houston, but the hole Johnson dug was too deep to get out of. "I think he just wants to compete, and he just wants to get some consistency in his game right now," Walker said. "The frustration is that he doesnt feel like hes giving this team a chance to win a game." As Johnson failed to do that for the fourth time in five starts, its time for more re-evaluation. Walker said its "back to the drawing board a little bit with him." From his vantage point, Johnson saw some positives. He finished with eight strikeouts and was able to last into the sixth inning to keep a tired bullpen fresh. But the negatives certainly outweighed the positives. "I just think they put some good swings on him," Gibbons said. "The balls not where hes trying to locate it, and then hes maybe up in the zone a little bit and they hit him." Johnson said he "threw some pretty good pitches." Because he didnt throw enough, he was left to lament another loss, but the coming days will mean more work to right his game. "Its a battle right now," Walker said. "And I know hes frustrated with the consistency, but were certainly not giving up on him by any stretch. I still think hes got plenty of stuff to get major-league hitters out. I think you saw it with the strikeouts today: At times hes very good. Hes going to continue to work at it, and I still believe in my heart that hes going to have some good games here." NOTES -- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left the game with tightness in his left quadriceps muscle. He said he felt some tightness going from first to third, and manager Bo Porter indicated his removal was for precautionary reasons. ... Blue Jays second baseman Mark DeRosa hit his 100th career home run with a solo shot in the second inning. Nike Air Force 1 Cheap Outlet . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Nike Air Force Ones Sale . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. http://www.airforceforsalecheap.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Nike Air Force 1 Clearance . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Cheap Air Force 1 .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Brisbane coach John Aloisi is confident his side will have no trouble blunting Melbourne Citys all-star attack in Friday nights A-League blockbuster.The likes of Tim Cahill and Bruno Fornaroli might have cut swathes through opposition defences across the first month of the competition, but Aloisi insists the Roars occasionally shaky rearguard will be able to cope.Two statistics show why.First, the Roar have one of the A-Leagues strongest home records, having lost just once in the past 18 months at Suncorp Stadium.Second, theyve conceded just nine shots on target - the fewest of any side so far this season, even accounting for their 4-0 nightmare in round two in Newcastle.That means were defending well as a team - not only the back four, Aloisi said.We know its going to be difficult again because its not only Fornaroli and Tim Cahill, theyve got other players that are in there.But in every team we play against every week, theres quality players.Despite speculation he could miss through injury, Cahill has been included in Citys travelling squad and is expected to start - setting up an intriguing battle with Roar frontman Jamie Maclaren, who has replaced him in the Socceroos squad for this months World Cup qualifier in Thailand.The last time Cahill played at Suncorp, he scored a memorable bbicycle kick in Australias 2-0 win over China early last year in the Asian Cup quarter-finals, and a crowd of more than 20,000 is expected to catch another glimpse.ddddddddddddBrisbanes Dimitri Petratos and Arana, meanwhile, are a big chance of making their first appearances of the season, according to Aloisi.Petratos has overcome an ankle injury while Spanish off-season recruit Arana, a versatile attacking player, has been building up his match fitness and is ready to be unleashed.City coach John van t Schip is wary of what Aloisi and his new-look Roar might have in store.Theyve changed their approach a bit, theyre playing a bit more defensively and then on the counter-attack, he said.The conditions are always different, but also I think were in good shape.STATS THAT MATTER:* City have won four of their past six games against Brisbane (D1, L1), including a 3-1 victory in their last encounter* Neil Kilkenny (4) has received more yellow cards than any other player in the competition so far and twice as many as any Roar player* Brisbane have conceded 22 more fouls than theyve won so far this campaign, the biggest negative disparity of any team in the competition Wholesale NFL Gear Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys Throwback NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys NFL T-shirts From China ' ' '