SYRACUSE — The Bisons split a pair of seven-inning games with the Syracuse Chiefs on Tuesday, as the Herd begins a four-game series at NBT Bank Stadium.
The split keeps the Herd a game above .500, as Buffalo ends Tuesday with a 56-55 record.
Game One
The Chiefs ended the Bisons’ three-game win streak in game one, besting Buffalo 5-1, thanks to a big four-run second inning.
With a 5:35 p.m. start time, Syracuse got off to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Chiefs loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the inning against Bisons’ starter Casey Lawrence, due to an error by shortstop Andy Burns, a walk, and an infield single. A sac-fly by Matt Skole brought home Chris Bostick, although Lawrence stranded runners on second and third later in the frame, limiting the damage to one run.
Darrell Ceciliani deposited his eighth home run of the year for the Bisons in the top of the second, tying the game at a run a piece. It was the only run the Herd could muster in the opening battle.
In the bottom of the second, Syracuse once again loaded the bases to lead off the inning, this time scoring four runs. A pair was driven in on a two-run double by Bostick. Domonic Brown made a leaping grab for an out later in the frame on a shot by Brian Goodwin, as Jose Lozada scored on what amounted to a sac-fly. Skole then plated his second RBI of the game, knocking a run across with a single to right field.
Lawrence allowed five runs, while only two were earned thanks to errors by Burns and Lawrence himself. He settled down after a rough second inning, retiring 13 hitters in a row from the final out of the second to the final out of the sixth. He lowers his Triple-A ERA from 3.98 to 3.86, but his win-loss record now sits at 2-4.
Taylor Hill pitched effectively in the start for the Chiefs. He stranded runners on first and second in the fifth, recording three consecutive outs to avoid damage. He picked up four strikeouts, and allowed only four hits, as his record improves to 5-9.
Outside of Ceciliani’s homer, A.J. Jimenez tallied two hits, while Andy Burns added the only other hit for the Herd.
Koda Glover entered in relief for Syracuse in the seventh, sealing the Chiefs win with a game-ending strikeout of Andy Burns.
Game Two
Things got dicey in the second game, but the Bisons’ held on for a 4-0 shutout win.
Matt Dominguez connected for a two-run double in the top of the first, giving the Herd its first lead of the day.
Playing in his first game since July 5 was Jio Mier, who plated a run with a RBI fielder’s choice in the second, giving the Herd a 3-0 lead. He last drove in a run on June 19, when he connected for his second home run of the year against Lehigh Valley.
With catcher Erik Kratz on first with a single in the fourth inning, Chiefs’ starter and former Bison Aaron Laffey threw away an attempted pickoff, allowing Kratz to move into scoring position. He was brought home on another RBI by Mier, who singled to score the fourth Buffalo run.
Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte started for the second time this season. He fanned four hitters through the first two innings, including a punch out of Brian Jeroloman in the second, which stranded two runners on base to end the inning. He left after 4.0 innings of shutout ball, besting the 3.0 innings he hurled on July 3, his last start with Buffalo.
Buffalo’s Aaron Loup allowed two hits out of the bullpen in the fifth, but notched three strikeouts in the inning. Dustin Antolin pitched a perfect sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh, as Zach Collier came through with a ground-rule double for the Chiefs, followed by a Brian Jeroloman walk.
With Ryan Tepera on the mound in relief of Antolin, Matt Dominguez speared a shot at third by Chris Bostick, tagging the base for a force out. A fly out of Brian Goodwin and a liner to Chris Colabello ended the threat and the ballgame. Tepera earns his 16-straight save, while Loup is credited with this third win of the year
Aaron Laffey pitched 5.0 innings in his start for Syracuse, allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits. Trevor Gott retired the Bisons in order in the sixth, and Erik Davis pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Chiefs.
Game three of the Herd’s four-game set in Syracuse is scheduled for 6:36 p.m. on Wednesday. Scott Copeland will make his third start with the Bisons this year, and will be opposed by Austin Voth.
BISONS NOTES:
Before the two games on Tuesday, the Bisons activated Colt Hynes, Bobby Korecky and Jio Mier from the disabled list, and added Junior Lake, who was outrighted by the Blue Jays. Starter Drew Hutchison was traded to Pittsburgh on Monday, relievers Danny Barnes and Bo Schultz were recalled to Toronto, and Ryan Goins was optioned to the Herd after his 13-game rehab assignment with the Bisons. Buffalo reliever Ben Rowen was also designated for assignment by the Blue Jays… Domonic Brown ended his 16-game hitting streak, going hitless in game one… Casey Lawrence has a 1.99 ERA in his six starts since returning to the Herd on July 5… Pat Venditte has yet to allow a run on the road, hurling 18.2 shutout innings away from Coca-Cola Field.
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