Johnson Tosses Gem As Trappers Beat 51s, 5-3
June 13, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Right-hander Mike Johnson (4-2) allowed only one run on three hits while striking out a Trapper season-high nine batters in 8.0 outstanding innings as Edmonton defeated Las Vegas 5-3 Sunday afternoon at TELUS Field. It was the second solid start in a row for Johnson, who held the defending PCL Champion Sacramento River Cats to two runs in 5.0 innings of work on June 8. He began the season in the Trapper bullpen, going 3-1 before recently moving into the rotation. Johnson is the 11th Canadian and the second Edmontonian to play for the Trappers.
Dave Shipanoff, who pitched in 11 games with the Trappers in 1987, is the only other Edmonton native to play for the club. It was the third consecutive win for a Trapper starting pitcher the first time the staff has accomplished that feat this season. Scott Downs, Josh Karp and Johnson yielded just seven hits and five runs in 22.0 innings of work in those three starts. The Trappers won three of the four games in the series and are now 14-9 at TELUS Field this season. They've also been very successful on Sunday's posting an 8-3 record on that day of the week. Edmonton will begin a four-game series against the Tucson Sidewinders on Monday night at TELUS Field.
The Trappers got off to a quick start on Sunday afternoon scoring two runs in the bottom of first inning. Center fielder Brandon Watson opened the frame with a base hit through the left side of the infield. He advanced to third base on a single to left-center field by shortstop Anthony Medrano and scored on a single through the right side of the infield by left fielder Ron Calloway. Medrano eventually scored Edmonton's second run when right fielder Ryan Church grounded out. It was his team-leading 40th RBI of the season for Church. Catcher Paul Hoover drew a base on balls to start the Trappers' half of the second inning. He moved to second on a single by third baseman Wes Carroll and scored on a two-out base hit by Medrano. Las Vegas got on the board in the fourth inning when shortstop Antonio Perez smashed his seventh home run of the season off the scoreboard in left field. The solo shot drew the 51s to within two runs of the lead.
Johnson was outstanding after allowing the home run to Perez. He fanned four consecutive batters after the longball and retired 12 of 13 batters into the eighth inning. Edmonton scored two more runs in the sixth inning with the aid of an error by former Trapper Eric Knott. Church led off the frame and was hit by a pitch. He moved to second on a single by Hoover. With two out and runners at second and third Johnson hit a ground ball to first baseman Luis Garcia, who flipped the ball to Knott, who was covering at first base. Knott dropped the ball allowing both runners to score, giving Edmonton a four-run lead. The 51s made it interesting in the ninth inning, scoring two runs off reliever Rob Stanifer. Perez drew a walk with one out in the inning and scored on a triple by Chin-Feng Chen that got by Watson in the left-center field gap and rolled all the way to the wall. Koyie Hill then grounded out, plating Chen with Las Vegas' third run of the game. Stanifer fanned pinch-hitter Eric Langill to end the game.
Highlights: Trappers: Have a 30-33 record, are 20-11 at home, including a 14-9 record at TELUS Field.are 11-2 when scoring the first run at home.are 8-3 on Sunday's, including a 5-1 record at TELUS Field.starting pitchers have earned the win in three straight games for the first time this season.Scott Downs, Josh Karp and Johnson yielded only five runs and seven hits in 22.0 innings in those three starts.have hit 35 home runs, the lowest total in the PCL.have gone deep just seven times in 23 games at TELUS Field.Edmonton leads the season series 5-3.Edmonton leads the All-Time series, 149-144 (.509).
RHP Mike Johnson: Yielded only one run on three hits while striking out nine in 8.0 innings or work.nine strikeouts set a Trapper season-high.also tied the season-high for innings pitched in just his fourth start.did not walk a batter.threw 99 pitches, 66 for strikes. www.trappersbaseball.com
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 13, 2004
- Sounds Whip Isotopes To Close Road Trip - Nashville Sounds
- Royals Rally To Sweep RedBirds - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Johnson Tosses Gem As Trappers Beat 51s, 5-3 - Edmonton Trappers
- Sox Split Pair In New Orleans - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Bozied, Furmaniak power Beavers to 12-7 win over Grizzlies - Portland Beavers
- Back-To-Back Jacks for Tacoma Defeats Tucson - Tucson Sidewinders
- Dillon leads Topes to 4-3 win - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Trappers outlast 51s for another win - Edmonton Trappers
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