STAGS SHOCK CAROLINA IN GAME 1: WILLINGHAM, JOHNSON PLAY HERO
By Ryan Martinez, Stags Beat Writer
CHARLOTTE - Sometimes baseball writes poetry. Tonight, it wrote two verses:
A veteran pitcher finding redemption, and a kid from Wyoming delivering the biggest hit of his life.
Layton Willingham, the former Cardinals ace turned deadline acquisition, silenced doubters with five gutsy innings, and Mel Johnson's seventh-inning double proved the difference as Portland stunned Carolina 5-2 to take Game 1 of the AL Elimination Series.
THE BIG MOMENTS
7th Inning Magic
Down 2-1, Portland finally solved Rudy Hutchinson:
- Runners on first and third
- Johnson doubles to left, scoring two
- Flips momentum completely
9th Inning Insurance
Back-to-back homers from Tiller and Bright off closer Wally Rexford sealed it.
The Willingham Effect
"This is why I came here," said Willingham, who scattered 4 hits over 5 innings. "These kids don't know they're not supposed to win. Sometimes that's better than experience."
BY THE NUMBERS
- Paul Correa: 3-for-4, RBI
- Danny Beard: 2 scoreless innings for the save
- Hutchinson: 7.1 IP, 3 ER in tough-luck loss
WHAT'S NEXT
Portland needs one win to advance. They'll send Warren Knight (11-12, 4.08) against Carolina on Saturday.
"We didn't come here to win one game," Johnson said, still soaked from the celebration. "But it sure feels good to get it."
Game 2: Saturday, 4:05 PM ET at Duke Energy Field
Code:
GAME 1 - AL ELIMINATION SERIES
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2062
PORTLAND STAGS AT CAROLINA PILOTS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Portland 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 10 0
Carolina 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 7 0
Winning Pitcher: L. Willingham (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: R. Hutchinson (0-1)
Save: D. Beard (1)
PORTLAND STAGS BATTING
Player AB R H RBI BB K
P. Correa (RF) 4 0 3 1 1 1
M. Santana (1B) 4 0 0 0 0 1
M. McCoy (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 0
P. LaBay (DH) 3 1 1 0 1 0
D. Rael (C) 4 0 0 0 0 1
E. Monaghan (LF) 3 1 1 0 0 0
M. Johnson (2B) 4 1 2 2 0 1
L. Bright (CF) 4 1 1 1 0 1
J. Tiller (SS) 4 1 2 1 0 1
Totals 34 5 10 5 2 6
CAROLINA PILOTS BATTING
Player AB R H RBI BB K
J. Williams (LF) 4 1 2 0 0 0
J. Gurvich (CF) 3 0 1 1 0 0
J. Tarnowski (3B) 4 0 1 1 0 0
J. Stratton (1B) 4 0 1 0 0 0
E. López (DH) 4 0 1 0 0 1
M. Alary (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 1
M. Disla (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 0
B. Barrientos (C) 3 0 0 0 0 0
L. De La Cruz Jr. (RF) 1 1 0 0 1 0
Totals 31 2 7 2 1 2
PORTLAND STAGS PITCHING
Pitcher IP H R ER BB K
L. Willingham (W) 5.0 4 2 2 1 1
E. Ramos 2.0 0 0 0 0 0
D. Beard (SV) 2.0 3 0 0 0 1
CAROLINA PILOTS PITCHING
Pitcher IP H R ER BB K
R. Hutchinson (L) 7.1 7 3 3 2 6
V. Louima 0.2 0 0 0 0 0
W. Rexford 1.0 3 2 2 0 0