Johnson Delivers Win Over WhiteWings in Game 1

August 13, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN - Carl Johnson, less than a week after being traded from the WhiteWings to the McAllen Thunder, hit a three-run homerun in the top of the seventh against his former team to break a 2-2 deadlock and deliver a 5-2 win for the McAllen Thunder.

Johnson had been asked to pinch hit for Mike Goss in the top of the seventh and the decision paid off. With two runners on base, Johnson hit his fifth homerun - first with the Thunder - against Wander Perez (0-1, 9.00 ERA), who gets the loss for the WhiteWings (43-31).

Justin Jordan (3-7, 6.39 ERA) gets the win for McAllen (31-44).

WhiteWings' starting pitcher Eric Blackwell and McAllen's JT Zink were locked in a pitcher's duel through the first five innings as neither pitcher allowed a run.

Then in the sixth inning, the Thunder finally got through to Blackwell, scoring two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Wilson Batista and Zach Mandelblatt both reached base on singles before Luke Heatherington batted both home on a single into left field.

The WhiteWings responded the next inning to the tie score as an RBI single from Edgar Trejo cut the deficit one, as the next batter, Welington Dotel, brought home the tying run on an RBI fielder's choice.

The comeback was all for naught, however, as Johnson exacted revenge on his former team by breaking the tie game with a three-run blast over the left field wall.

Mickey Cassidy (3-1, 5.19 ERA) is expected to start game two of Saturday night's doubleheader.



North American League Stories from August 13, 2011


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