Johnson, Carbonell Propel Giants to 3-0 Victory
August 19, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
STOCKTON, CA - Jordan Johnson fired 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Daniel Carbonell smacked a two-run home run to lead the San Jose Giants to a 3-0 victory over the Stockton Ports on Tuesday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. The shutout was San Jose's 12th of the season as the Giants (60-61) evened their series with Stockton and moved back to within one game of the Ports in the North Division Wild Card race.
Johnson (2-1) picked-up his second win in three starts with the Giants since joining the club earlier this month from Salem-Keizer. The right-hander scattered six hits, walked none and struck out six during his 89-pitch performance. Ian Gardeck (1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Jake Smith (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) then combined for 2 2/3 hitless innings of relief to complete the shutout. Smith earned his 11th save of the season.
Carbonell's (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI) home run broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth while Jeff Kobernus (3-for-4, 2B) added three hits to lead San Jose offensively.
The Ports had an opportunity to take the early lead in the bottom of the first against Johnson, but the Giants starter was able to pitch out of the jam. Brett Vertigan led off with a double into the right field corner and then moved to third on Melvin Mercedes' sacrifice bunt. Johnson though struck out Yairo Munoz looking and then retired Jacob Nottingham on a groundout to shortstop to end the inning.
The Giants threatened in the top of the second and third innings against Stockton starter Dylan Covey, but came away empty-handed in both frames. Angel Villalona led off the second with a double, but was stranded at second after Covey struck out the side. In the third, Kobernus hit a double to start the inning and Carbonell was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Covey again escaped.
Meanwhile, Johnson pitched around a leadoff single in the bottom of the second picking-off the runner at first. After a 1-2-3 bottom of the third, Johnson allowed a leadoff single to Mercedes in the fourth, but induced the next batter, Munoz, to ground into a double play.
San Jose then broke through in the top of the fifth. With one out, Stromsmoe blooped a single into shallow center. After Christian Arroyo struck out, Carbonell stepped to the plate and a launched a towering fly ball over the fence down the left field line for a two-run homer. The home run, Carbonell's fourth of the season, gave the Giants a 2-0 lead.
Johnson continued to cruise after San Jose moved in front working around a two-out single in the fifth before a perfect sixth inning. The Giants then added to their lead with a run in the seventh. Kobernus led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Stromsmoe and then moved to third on a wild pitch. After Carbonell was plunked with two outs, a second wild pitch in the inning plated Kobernus to make it 3-0.
Johnson had retired five straight hitters until Nottingham singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Marincov then doubled down the left field line putting runners at second and third and ending Johnson's night. Gardeck was summoned from the bullpen and he quickly set down B.J. Boyd on a grounder back to the mound with the runners holding. Michael Soto then walked to load the bases and bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Gardeck induced Trent Gilbert to pop out to shortstop to retire the side.
Gardeck returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and notched one strikeout in a 1-2-3 inning. Then in the ninth, Jake Smith set down the Ports in order to finish the game. Smith struck out Munoz, retired Nottingham on a line out to center and then struck out Marincov in his perfect inning.
Covey (6-8) took the loss for Stockton after surrendering two runs (both earned) on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out a season-high eight.
Brian Ragira (2-for-4, 2B) also finished with a multi-hit game for San Jose.
Notes:
* The shutout was San Jose's second in their last five games. The Giants' 12 shutouts this season are one behind Visalia for the league lead.
* San Jose out-hit Stockton 9-6.
* The Giants won despite going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
* Kobernus was mired in a 6-for-57 slump (.105) prior to his three hits on Tuesday.
* Johnson owns a 3.00 ERA in his first three starts with San Jose. He has 20 strikeouts and just two walks over 18 innings.
* Johnson's 6 1/3 innings pitched established a new career-high.
* Tuesday's victory clinched a season-series win for the Giants over Stockton. San Jose is now 11-8 versus the Ports this year.
* The Giants (30-21) remained two games behind Visalia (32-19) in the second half North Division race. 19 games remain in the regular season.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports play the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:10 PM. Jason Forjet (4-4, 3.39 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Matt Stalcup (2-3, 3.03 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:40 PM.
California League Stories from August 19, 2015
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- Johnson, Carbonell Propel Giants to 3-0 Victory - San Jose Giants
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