SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Johnson was encouraged with his performance in a simulated game Monday and hopes to return to pitch out of the bullpen for the San Francisco Giants during the stretch run.

The 45-year-old Johnson threw 53 pitches, including warmups, before the Giants played the Colorado Rockies. He was on the mound at San Francisco’s AT&T Park for the first time since injuring his left shoulder more than two months ago.
“It’s another step toward, hopefully, being activated,” the five-time Cy Young Award winner said. “I have been throwing for 2› weeks now and the only difference today was there were hitters. Overall I felt pretty good and I threw well. We’ll see how I feel (Tuesday) and make a game plan.”
Giants manager Bruce Bochy was encouraged by the outing but did not commit to a timetable for Johnson.
“I thought when he went out for the second time he was even better,” Bochy said. “He was pain free and we’ll check on him tomorrow.”
Bochy said it was unlikely Johnson would be activated for the Rockies series. Johnson last pitched July 5, when he came out of a game against the Houston Astros because of a left shoulder strain, an injury that was later called a torn rotator cuff.
The Big Unit said if the past two weeks were any indication, he would feel fine Tuesday and would like to take the ball in a game — as a reliever.
“This was encouraging and I feel like I’m ready to go,” Johnson said. “The first step is to get activated and the second step would be to see when I pitch next.”
Johnson, who has been working out near his home in Arizona, hit lefty John Bowker in his first inning.
“He had a number on his back,” Johnson joked. “I asked him if he was OK and he said he was fine. I’m healed as well as I’m going to be. It’s only going to heal with rest during the offseason. There are three weeks left and if I can help, I want to pitch.”
Giants’ 22-year-old catcher Buster Posey — he was one year old when Johnson made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos in 1988 — caught the simulated game.
“He threw the ball well to both sides of the plate,” Posey said. “He used his slider and change for strikes. It was fun for me to get the chance to catch him. He was coming in pretty good. I hope he feels good.”
Johnson, who has 303 career victories and 4,869 strikeouts, is 8-6 on the season with an ERA of 4.81 in 17 starts.