Johnson finding his niche with Mariners

SEATTLE — He doesn’t look physically imposing. He doesn’t throw extremely hard. But reliever Steve Johnson has proven an uncanny ability to strike hitters out during his brief time with the Mariners, and that’s a trend that certainly increases his value and long-term viability with his new club.

The 28-year-old right-hander signed a Minor League deal with the Mariners late in spring after being released by the Rangers, but pitched well enough in Triple-A Tacoma that his name was called when general manager Jerry Dipoto needed a replacement for a sore-shouldered Tony Zych on May 3.

And while he’s been used mostly in low-leverage situations so far, the former Orioles starter is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA, having allowed five hits with seven walks and 13 strikeouts in 10 innings.

Johnson struck out the last two batters he faced on Wednesday against the A’s, then whiffed five straight Twins in a two-inning stint on Friday. Charlie Furbush is the only Mariners reliever to have recorded more than seven straight outs by strikeout since 2010, having racked up nine in a row in 2013.

So how exactly is the 6-foot-1, 220-pound right-hander fooling …

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