Johnson, Villalona Propel Giants Past JetHawks
July 19, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Chase Johnson fired seven effective innings with just one run allowed and Angel Villalona hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-2 Giants victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose (45-48) has now won the first two games of the series, four in a row overall and 11 out of their last 12.
Johnson (6-3) surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out eight during his dominant effort on the mound to pick-up the win. The right-hander retired 21 out of the 26 batters he faced.
Villalona (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), who also drove home a run with a sacrifice fly earlier in the contest, led the Giants offensive attack. Jeff Kobernus (1-for-3, 2B, RBI) added a key RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to plate a San Jose insurance run.
The Giants jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the first. Christian Arroyo started the rally with a one-out single before Daniel Carbonell doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Villalona was up next and he hit a sacrifice fly to center plating Arroyo for a 1-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, Johnson began his night with three scoreless innings. Lancaster's only baserunner over the first three frames was a leadoff walk to Jamie Ritchie in the top of the third. Johnson then retired the first batter of the fourth before Derek Fisher stepped to the plate and launched a solo home run to right center. The homer, Fisher's 10th of the season, tied the game 1-1.
Johnson though settled down after the long ball to strikeout the next two hitters. He then worked around a two-out single in the top of the fifth and a leadoff single in the sixth. In the seventh, Richie singled with two outs, but Johnson came back to strikeout the next hitter, Ronnie Mitchell, to end the inning and his night. Johnson threw 92 pitches over his seven-inning masterpiece.
The Giants managed only two hits from the second through the sixth innings before breaking through in the seventh. With the score still tied, Villalona led off the bottom of the seventh with a towering solo home run to left center. The homer, Villalona's sixth since joining San Jose, gave the Giants a 2-1 lead.
Ian Gardeck (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) relieved Johnson to begin the top of the eighth and worked a 1-2-3 frame to maintain the one-run advantage. San Jose then pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead. Brandon Bednar led off with an infield single, advanced to second on Jeff Arnold's sacrifice bunt and scored when Kobernus doubled down the left field line.
Dan Slania (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) pitched the top of the ninth and allowed a two-out RBI single to Jacob Nottingham as the JetHawks trimmed the Giants lead to 3-2. However with the potential tying run on first, Slania induced the next hitter, Ritchie, to groundout to second to end the game. Slania was credited with his 14th save of the season.
Austin Chrismon (3-2) suffered the loss out of the Lancaster bullpen. Chrismon, who entered the game to begin the bottom of the sixth, allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits over three innings.
Notes:
* The Giants have allowed a total of just five runs during their current four-game winning streak.
* Johnson lowered his season ERA to 2.87 - third in the California League.
* Villalona has homered in back-to-back games. He has 18 RBI's in his last 17 games.
* San Jose has a team ERA of 1.47 over their last 12 games (11-1 record).
* The Giants out-hit the JetHawks 7-6 on Sunday.
* San Jose improved to 15-8 in the second half.
On Deck: The Giants and JetHawks continue their four-game series on Monday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jose Reyes (1-4, 8.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Daniel Mengden (2-1, 5.24 ERA). Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from July 19, 2015
- Johnson, Villalona Propel Giants Past JetHawks - San Jose Giants
- Fisher Goes Deep, But Giants Edge JetHawks - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Outlast Blaze in 14 for 4-3 Win - Stockton Ports
- Bako Falls in Another 14-Inning Epic, 4-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Homer Helps 'Hawks Steer Clear of Shutout - Lancaster JetHawks
- Senzatela Shines in Nuts' 5-3 Victory - Modesto Nuts
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