Johnson’s arm, Paul’s bat lift 51s to victory

Jason Johnson pitched six strong innings Thursday night to help lead the 51s to a 7-4 Pacific Coast League win over the Tacoma Rainiers at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.

Johnson (6-2) held the Rainiers to no earned runs on four hits and one walk. He struck out seven and threw 71 of his 103 pitches for strikes as Las Vegas (24-23) won three of four games with Tacoma (23-23).

Xavier Paul hit a two-out solo homer in the fourth inning for the 51s, his fourth of the season. He also led off the game with a single, stole second base and scored on a single by Terry Tiffee.

Paul also drew a two-out walk in the second and scored as part of a three-run rally highlighted by Angel Chavez's two-run single.

The Rainiers rallied late on Jeff Clement's leadoff homer in the eighth and Tug Hulett's two-run double in the ninth. Following Hulett's hit, a single and a passed ball put runners on second and third with no outs. But Dwayne Pollok pitched out of further trouble.