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STJ BATTERS PORTLAND; STAR PERFORMERS ABOUND
ST. JOHN’S BATSMEN COLLECT 26 HITS & 9 BASES ON BALLS; FIVE MEN REACH BASE FOUR TIMES

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 20, 1869) – It was a contest in designation only at Olneyville Field on Sunday, as St. John’s scored early and often in a crushing eighteen-run victory over visiting Portland:

Usually when a team scores that many runs, the opposing defense has played their part by committing a plethora of fielding errors. Not so in this game, as the methodical St. John’s batsmen recorded 26 hits, nine of them doubles, and drew a record-tying nine bases on balls as they beat Portland pitching into submission.

During the course of the game no less than five St. John’s batsmen reached base four or more times on a combination of hits and bases on balls:

• #1 William Johnson (CF): 3/3 (all 1B), 6 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 100 GMSC
• #2 Nelson Townsend (RF): 4/6, 2 2B, 5 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 6 TB, 85 GMSC
• #3 Tarmo Kuopio (1B): 4/6, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 5 TB
• #5 Anderson MacGyver (2B): 2/5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, SB, 4 TB
• #7 John Baddley (SS): 4/5, 2 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, SB, 6 TB, 82 GMSC

Johnson’s Game Score of 100 was the first such performance in the NBBO this season as he became the fifth player in NEL history to earn four bases via balls in a nine-inning game, and one of a select few to reach base seven times in a game of any length. Johnson currently holds the NBBO record for walks in a regulation with five.

Johnson is not the .390-.400 hitter that he was last year, but his proficiency at drawing walks means his On-Base % is still above .450 and he is among the elite run scorers in the sport. It certainly helps Johnson’s cause that he has the kind of talent behind him in the lineup capable of putting in performances like they did in today’s game.