Johnson, Knights Beat the Clippers 3-1 Tuesday
August 18, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(COLUMBUS, OH) - Erik Johnson's seven strong innings helped cool off the International League's Wild Card leaders on Tuesday.
Johnson (10-8, 2.38) allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings, Jason Coats clobbered his 15th home run of the season, and the Charlotte Knights beat the Columbus Clippers by a score of 3-1 on Tuesday in the finale of their two-game series from Huntington Park in Columbus, OH. With the win, the Knights split the series and pulled to 4.5 games behind the Clippers in the International League Wild Card race. Columbus entered Tuesday's game having won six of their last seven games.
After allowing just one run on Tuesday, Johnson lowered his ERA to an International League best 2.38 on the season. The 25-year-old right-hander also moved into a tie for second in the league in wins with 10, and increased his league-leading total of strikeouts to 129 after he fanned six batters in the finale.
Along with moving up in a number of 2015 categories, Johnson also moved up the ranks in Charlotte Knights franchise history on Tuesday. His commanding game two victory was his 19th as a member of the Knights, which is good for 10th all-time. The 2015 International League All-Star also moved into a tie for seventh all-time in strikeouts (249) and 10th all-time in games started (51).
The Knights backed Johnson's solid start with a three-run fourth inning against Columbus starter Will Roberts (2-3, 3.52), who was saddled with the loss. Roberts allowed three runs on six hits over just 4.2 innings pitched.
With the game scoreless, Coats homered for the 15th time with the Knights this season and recorded his team-high 74th RBI in the process. With a 1-0 lead, the Knights tacked on two more runs with help from Rob Brantly and Kevan Smith. Brantly drove in Dayan Viciedo with a sacrifice fly and Smith added an RBI single to make it a 3-0 game at that point. That was all Johnson and the Knights needed for their second win on the five-game road trip.
Columbus scored their one and only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on an Anthony Gallas solo home run, his third of the season. The Clippers added just one more hit along the way and lost for just the second time over a seven-game span. Charlotte relievers Zach Phillips and Junior Guerra each tossed a scoreless inning. Guerra earned his fifth save of the season.
The Knights will now make the trek back home to Uptown Charlotte after the quick five-game road trip through Ohio. After an off day on Wednesday, the Knights will open a seven-game homestand at BB&T Ballpark on Thursday and face the Indianapolis Indians in game one of a four-game series. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. for Thursday's 7:05 p.m. game, which features Thirsty Thursday ™ presented by Hickory Tavern.
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