STAFF REPORTS
The Bisons fell short, 1-0, in game one of a Sunday doubleheader against Lehigh Valley at Coca-Cola Field. Brett Oberholtzer was looked in a pitching duel with the IronPigs’ Mark Appel that wasn’t decided until a sixth inning home run from Dylan Cozens.
Buffalo struggled for much of the day to connect on anything dished from Appel. The righty held the Herd to just two hits in his 5.2 innings of work and none until Shane Opitz singled with two outs in the fifth inning.
That fifth inning was maybe the Herd’s biggest missed opportunity. Opitz’s hit was a perfectly executed hit-and-run with Ian Parmley, who had drawn a one-out walk. However, Appel struck out Christian Lopes on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning.
Opitz also gave Lehigh Valley a scare again in the seventh and final inning. The shortstop sent a line drive to right field to get to first and took second after a wild pitch from Pedro Beato. But, he was left stranded in scoring position when the former Bisons’ closer induced Lopes to fly out to end the game.
The IronPigs had a few chances to open a gap earlier in the game but couldn’t take advantage. Rhys Hoskins and Nick Williams both managed to get on base in the second inning but a pop out from Taylor Featherson left them hanging.
Brett Oberholtzer (0-2) kept the IronPigs’ lineup quiet for most of the first six innings. The southpaw only allowed five hits, but one of which being Cozens’ game-winning home run. John Stilson took over for Buffalo after the homer, and struck out Featherson and Williams in 1.1 innings of work.
