The Pawtucket Red Sox defeated the Bisons’ 1-0 on Sunday. PawSox starter Justin Haley kept the Bisons at bay, allowing just two hits in eight shutout innings. Pawtucket takes game one of a two-game series at McCoy Stadium, the final two contests of the 2016 regular season.
The Bisons lose for the sixth straight game, as the slumping ballclub has dropped 13 of its last 15 ballgames.
Haley, who notched seven strikeouts, extends his scoreless inning streak against Buffalo to 23 frames. He pitched 15.0 combined shutout innings against the Herd in two starts in August.
The Red Sox starter held the Herd hitless for the first five innings, allowing a lone walk to Casey Kotchman in the second. Jesus Montero also reached base in the fifth, going to first after a strikeout and a wild pitch. Quintin Berry notched the Bisons’ first hit leading off the seventh, lining a ball off Haley on the mound for an infield single. The only other Bison baserunner was Andy Burns, who reached on an infield single in the eighth inning.
Facing Bisons starter Scott Copeland, the PawSox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Pawtucket took advantage of some lax Buffalo defense. Jose Vinicio reached first base on a fielder’s choice, attempted to steal second, and not only reached the base, but moved all the way home on a throwing error on a Copeland pickoff attempt.
Copeland allowed a one-out double to Chris Dominguez in the second, but stranded the runner in scoring position. He hurled one-two-three frames in the third and fourth, before being lifted after the sixth inning. Copeland ends his night with three hits allowed, one unearned run, and five strikeouts. His seasonal-ERA will sit at 3.04, with his record falling to 3-4.
Aaron Loup relived Copeland in the seventh, and despite giving up a leadoff double to Chris Marrero, kept the game at 1-0, stranding Marrero at third base. Bo Schultz pitched a perfect inning in the eighth.
Lefty Luis Ysla relieved Haley in the ninth for Pawtucket. The 24-year old made his Triple-A debut on Sunday, and struck out the first two hitters he faced. Domonic Brown singled, bringing to go-ahead run to the plate in Matt Dominguez, but the Buffalo third baseman flew out, wrapping up the second-to-last game of the season. Ysla earned his first save, with Haley notching his eighth win of 2016.
The Bisons’ final game of the 2-16 season will take place on Monday, barring a weather-related cancelation. First pitch from McCoy Stadium is slated for 1:05 p.m., with Scott Diamond getting the ball for the Herd.
BISONS NOTES:
Matt Dominguez ends his five-game hitting streak on Sunday, going hitless in four at bats. Sunday’s loss ensures that the Bisons will not match their 2015 record of 68-76, as the Herd loses its 77th game. Buffalo hit into two more double plays, adding to their franchise record and MiLB-best 158 double plays this season.
from Bisons.com via IFTTT
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