By Dan Connolly

7:16 p.m. EDT, July 22, 2012

It wasn’t exactly pretty, but closer Jim Johnson picked up his 30th save of the season Sunday, becoming just the 12th Oriole to reach that milestone in a season.

He’s the first to do it since George Sherrill in 2008.

So, does the No. 30 mean anything to Johnson, a constant team-first guy?

“No, but the guys in the bullpen think it is [a big deal]. They’re all trying to get a kickback,” Johnson joked. “I like 51 [wins] instead of 30. That’s a better number as of right now.”

On Sunday, Johnson entered with one out and a two-run lead in the ninth and immediately yielded a double and a RBI single. He picked up a fly out, pitched around Shin-Soo Choo for a walk and then struck out Asdrubal Cabrera for his 30th save in 32 chances.

With 67 games to play, Johnson could climb quickly up the single-season list for the Orioles. Randy Myers holds the club record with 45 saves in 1997. Gregg Olson is second with 37 in 1990.