For the second straight game, Johnson will face off against Valley. The Warriors will look to defend their home field on Thursday against the Vikings at 4:00 p.m. Johnson has given up an average of 13.7 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Johnson is headed into Thursday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Tuesday. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 13-12 heartbreaker at the hands of Valley. Even if the Warriors couldn't come away with the victory, the high-scoring effort was a great turnaround for their hitters, which had struggled int the games prior.
For Valley's part, Carmine Bermudez was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He struck out nine batters over four innings while giving up three earned (and three unearned) runs off three hits. Bermudez has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. He was even better at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Valley is undefeated when Bermudez posts three or more hits, but 5-10 otherwise.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Giovanni Carmona, who went 4-for-5 with six RBI, two doubles, and one run. He is becoming a predictor of Valley's success: when he posts at least three RBI the team is undefeated (and 5-10 when he doesn't).
Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .579. They are 7-1 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
The win made it two in a row for Valley and bumps their season record up to 8-10. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.0 runs over those games. As for Johnson, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-13.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Johnson has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .465. However, it's not like Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .488. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
