The Buffalo Bisons came away with a split in Sunday’s doubleheader at McCoy Stadium, rebounding from a morning shutout with a pair of home runs and some solid pitching for the back-nine win in the afternoon.
Game One:
Sunday morning’s contest was dominated by Pawtucket starter Justin Haley as the RedSox rolled to a 6-0 victory.
The big right-hander went the distance in the shortened game, punching out four Bisons as he spread five hits around seven innings for the complete game shutout, his first at the Triple-A level.
Taking the mound for the first time in 12 days, Mike Bolsinger was on a pitch count and worked quickly and efficiently in his organizational debut. The 6-foot-1 Texan was in control for 2.2 innings, striking out a pair without issuing a walk.
But that’s when the 28-year-old clipped Ryan LaMarre on the finger to extend the home half of the third. Marco Hernandez then tucked a ball just inside of the first-base bag and into the corner for a triple, scoring LaMarre while bringing an end to Bolsinger’s day.
Jason Berken also made his Bisons debut as he took over from Bolsinger.
Making his 12th minor-league start of the year, the veteran righty showed some inconsistency but kept Buffalo’s bullpen rested as he took the ball the rest of the way. Berken allowed four runs on five hits, striking out three Sox while walking a trio as well.
Game Two:
After getting dunked by putting up a donut in the first half of Sunday’s double dip, the Bisons got their offense going in game two, eventually doubling up the Red Sox with a 6-3 win.
The Herd jumped out in front 1-0 in the second inning, as Darrell Ceciliani crushed his ninth home run of the year well beyond the right field fence.
Buffalo tacked on a few more in the third as Jio Mier led off the inning with a double, then scampered around the bases on Dalton Pompey’s single into shallow center field, before sliding in just under the tag at home.
Andy Burns followed up with a ground-rule double, bouncing a ball off of the track in the left-field corner and over the wall. A wild pitch then plated Pompey. Burns trotted home a batter later as Matt Dominguez cashed him in with a deep sacrifice fly, pushing the Bisons’ lead to four.
In his 10th start while up with the Herd this season, Casey Lawrence cruised through three frames before running into some trouble in the fourth. After the first four batters all reached base, the lean righty limited the damage to three runs with a strikeout, a lineout and a fielder’s choice grounder.
Lawrence then worked his way through another inning, finishing with six strikeouts and a walk to earn his third victory of the season.
Chris Colabello added an insurance marker in the top of the sixth when he took a 1-0 pitch and pounded it onto the picnic deck in right-center field.
Tasked with a holding the 6-3 lead, Dustin Antolin made quick work of the Red Sox in sixth, fanning two of three batters.
Ryan Tepera followed up with a pair of punch outs in a perfect seventh, nailing down the win and his 17th save.
BISONS NOTES:
Mike Bolsinger was activated by the Bisons Saturday after being optioned by the Blue Jays…Also prior to Saturday’s rainout, Jason Berken was called up from Double-A New Hamshire to replace Pat Venditte who had been traded by Toronto to Seattle…David Adams was placed on the disabled list as the additional corresponding move…With a first-inning single in game two, Matt Dominguez extended his hitting streak to five games…Buffalo is now 5-9 in doubleheader action this season.
from Bisons.com via IFTTT
