Bryant Hernandez of the Lodi GrapeSox is picked off at first by the Sacramento Legends pitcher on a close play during Thursday's game at Zupo Field. Hernandez appeared to get back to the base on time. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Legends pitcher leaves the GrapeSox baffled

With his backdoor curve neutralizing Lodi GrapeSox hitters all night long, Sacramento Legends right-hander Sean Johnson was in the driver's seat the entire game on Thursday at Zupo Field.

Johnson, a Sacramento City College product, tossed a seven-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and only two walks to lead the Legends to a 6-0 victory over the GrapeSox.

It was the fourth straight setback for Lodi (10-8), with all the losses coming at home.

Lodi starter Brian Cloud had a rocky start, but settled down after allowing two runs in the first inning. He didn't allow another run and gave up six hits with four strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work.

But the night belonged to Johnson, who threw only 106 pitches in the complete-game effort.

Sacramento used three hits and two errors to tack on four unearned runs in the ninth.

Carson Blair and Tanner Moore both went 2-for-4 for the GrapeSox and Moore's double was the only extra-base hit in the contest.

The Legends banged out 11 hits in the game.

Lodi had played nine games in a six-day stretch before taking three days off leading into Thursday's contest.

The GrapeSox will host the Legends in the second of a four-game homestand today at 7:05 p.m.

In other GrapeSox news:

Blair, a third baseman who was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball draft earlier this month but has yet to sign, has been invited to play in a game next week at Fenway Park featuring the team's draft choices.

Blair, an incoming freshman at Tulane University who hails from Houston, Texas, received the invitation from a Red Sox scout who attended Thursday's game.