The Pirates have a day off before right-hander Chad Kuhl the Cincinnati Reds Friday at home. Kuhl is 1-1 with a 2.78 ERA in four career starts against the Reds. Arizona RHP Matt Koch is 2-0 with a 5.29

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Diontae Johnson understands parallels will be drawn between himself and former Steelers star Antonio Brown. The third-round pick Andy Isabella Jersey , however, is focused on forging his own path.The comparisons and serendipitous circumstances that link the two are almost too conspicuous to believe. But this “D.J.” isn’t actively going out of his way to be the next “AB.”As he walked off the field after completing his first official on-field NFL practice session, Johnson was predictably asked to give his thoughts about the ubiquitous comparisons between him and the perennial All-Pro receiver now with Oakland.“It’s a good thing, because he’s a great player,” Johnson said Friday. “Somebody I used to watch. I still look up to him. He’s a great player.“But I can only be myself only.”What the Steelers have been saying they expect of Johnson would be more than good enough — even if it falls short of the level Brown attained as the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver for most of the past decade.Brown was shipped off to the Raiders for third- and fifth-round draft picks in March after he’d publicly clashed with everyone from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to coach Mike Tomlin to Steelers President Art Rooney II since sitting out the final game of the 2018 season. That leaves a gaping, 114-catch-per-year hole of production on the offense. Brown had 686 receptions, 9,145 yards and 67 touchdowns from 2013 to 2018.By no means do the Steelers expect Johnson to make up for that by himself. But Johnson enters the NFL with a similar game and profile as Brown — and he was acquired as the headlining (if underwhelming) return in the trade of Brown.Johnson embraces the on-field similarities with Brown in regards to playing style: “route running, able to catch ball, get out of my breaks, able to run every route in the route tree.” But Johnson politely downplays expectations he can approach the superstar status Brown reached in Pittsburgh.“I’m just trying to come in and contribute and come in and do what I can do,” Johnson said. “Be myself and help out in any way that I can.”It might forever be difficult for Johnson to simply “be himself” with the Steelers, if only because many might always compare him to Brown. A look at the roster shows that about the only way Johnson doesn’t share a strong resemblance with Brown is uniform number. Johnson was wearing No. 18 at rookie minicamp; Brown’s former No. 84 was given to undrafted tight end Milan Richard.Brown stands 5-foot-10, 181 pounds. Johnson is listed at 5-10, 183.Brown went to Central Michigan, a Mid-American Conference school; Johnson starred at Toldeo, the Chippewas’ MAC rival.Over his final two college seasons Zach Allen Jersey , Brown had 2,096 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in being voted all-MAC twice. Johnson, over his final two college seasons: 2,039 receiving yards, 25 touchdowns, two-time all-MAC.Each had great success as a punt and kick returner, too.Johnson might not be Brown but he’s already made an impression on his new teammates.“He has a lot of talent,” said cornerback Justin Layne, a player the Steelers took with another third-round pick. “Fast, quick guy. He is going to help us a lot.”Steelers fourth-round pick Benny Snell has gotten to know Johnson in recent months because they share the same agent and were roommates in Indianapolis at the combine in February.“Diontae is amazing,” said Snell, a running back from Kentucky. “He’s a cool guy, a cool dude — and he’s got some hands.”Johnson’s hands weren’t as much on display Friday as the Steelers likely hoped; he sat out portions of team drills, then deferred to coach Mike Tomlin, who was unavailable to media Friday, for specifics about any injury. But he allowed that he was “fine.”For his rookie season, Johnson joins a receivers corps led by JuJu Smith-Schuster and also featuring veteran Donte Moncrief Hakeem Butler Jersey , second-year wideout James Washington, and slot specialists Eli Rogers and Ryan Switzer.Where Johnson falls into that pecking order in 2019 is a long way from being determined.“It’s exciting, being able to play football again,” Johnson said, “being able to run routes and catch balls and learn the plays.” The Pittsburgh Pirates had what looked like an out turn into a home run. They made a couple of questionable decisions, endured some nerve-wracking moments in the ninth inning.

But they’re leaving Arizona with a win, which is all that really matters. Everything else can wait.

Jordy Mercer homered and had three RBIs, Jameson Taillon pitched seven effective innings and the Pirates avoided a sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

”We won. Let’s get on a plane and go home,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ”We can peel back the layers later.”

The Pirates blew a five-run lead in the opener and were knocked for 13 runs in the second game. Pittsburgh ended Arizona’s sweep bid with a four-run second inning against Zack Greinke (5-5) and a sterling performance by Taillon (4-5).

Taillon gave up a two-run homer to David Peralta in the first inning when the ball popped out of left fielder Austin Meadows‘ glove and over the wall. Taillon got better as the game went along, working out of a jam in the second inning and allowing two runs on six hits to help end Arizona’s five-game winning streak.

Felipe Vazquez gave up a two-run single to pinch-hitter Jon Jay in the ninth before striking out Jake Lamb with the bases loaded for his 12th save.

”When you run into a team that’s pesky with two strikes, they’re tough to put away,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. ”You’re going to run into some situations when you make mistakes.”

Taillon has enjoyed pitching in the afternoon, entering Wednesday’s game 8-2, including 3-0 on the road before the sun goes down. He got an unfortunate break in the first inning, when Peralta’s deep shot caromed out of Meadows’ glove as he leaped near the wall.

Taillon struck out Paul Goldschmidt with the bases loaded to end the second inning and struck out four.

”It was a weird start, but I felt really good,” Taillon said. ”I kind of had that mindset Chris Lindstrom Jersey , like let’s see if I could get my pitch count right through six.”

Greinke has been dominant at Chase Field the past two seasons, going 16-1 with 2.53 ERA at Chase Field since 2017.

Arizona’s ace struggled with his command against the Pirates, walking four while striking out seven. Greinke walked two in Pittsburgh’s four-run second inning, giving up a two-run double to Mercer and a run-scoring double to Josh Bell. Mercer hit a solo homer in the fourth to put Pittsburgh up 5-2.

Greinke was lifted after walking two in the fifth to load the bases with two outs. He allowed five runs on five hits and struck out seven.

”I felt good, but every time I put a pitch over the plate, they hit it good,” said Greinke, who had not lost at Chase Field since last Aug. 9 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. ”As long as I’m able to make good pitches it’s fine, but I wasn’t able to do that every time.”

MEADOWS’ MISCUE

One of the things the Pirates will look at when they get home is Meadows’ miscue that led to Peralta’s home run. He leaped to catch the ball just before colliding with the wall, but the ball appeared to carom out before contact was made.

”I haven’t said anything to him; we’ll show him the video,” Hurdle said. ”There’s room to go get the ball and it kind of looked like it was the fence or he drifted on the ball, there was hesitation. He had time to get under that ball or at least get to it quicker.”

DIAMONDBACKS MOVES

Arizona reinstated C Jeff Mathis from paternity leave and optioned RHP Braden Shipley to Triple-A Reno. Mathis’ wife, Jenna, gave birth to their second daughter on Sunday.

TRAINER’S TABLE

Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli returned to the lineup after missing three games while being monitored for post-concussion symptoms. He was struck on the mask by a foul ball Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (strained right oblique) is expected to throw about 50 pitches in his rehab start with Single-A Visalia on Thursday.

UP NEXT

The Pirates have a day off before right-hander Chad Kuhl the Cincinnati Reds Friday at home. Kuhl is 1-1 with a 2.78 ERA in four career starts against the Reds.

Arizona RHP Matt Koch is 2-0 with a 5.29 ERA his past three starts heading into Thursday’s game against the New York Mets.

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