STAFF REPORTS
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BUFFALO — Once they were finally allowed to play, the Bisons wasted little time getting back into the swing of things on Saturday afternoon.
Sidelined by raindrops each of the past two days and for 44 minutes at the start of action on Saturday, the Herd struck early and often in an 8-0 victory over the IronPigs at Coca-Cola Field. Jason Leblebijian homered and drove in five as the Bisons won the first game of scheduled doubleheader against Lehigh Valley.
Meanwhile, T.J. House did all the work the Herd needed on the mound, delivering the team’s first complete game shutout in over four years.
Unfortunately, the rain won out in the latter half of the afternoon as game two was postponed until Sunday, May 7. Now a single-admission doubleheader, game one on Sunday will begin at 12:35 p.m. (Gates: 12 p.m.).DETAILS
It looked like Mother Nature was going to complete the doubleheader sweep, but the Bisons and IronPigs played through the raindrops in game one. The Herd quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning on Christian Lopes’ single up the middle and back-to-back walks to Mike Ohlman and Rowdy Tellez. Leblebijian followed with a first-pitch double down the left field line to cash in the first two runs of the game.
Ian Parmley followed Leblebijian with a sharp grounder that was knocked down by a diving Taylor Featherston at third base. With no play on the speedy Parmley, Tellez scored easily from third.
Leblebijian and Parmley combined for more offense in the third inning with back-to-back home runs. Leblebijian’s was a three-run shut that gave him an International League-best 20 RBI on the season. Parmley followed with an opposite-field blast to left for his first career Triple-a home run.
The back-to-back homers were the first for the Bisons since Mauro Gomez and Luis Jimenez accomplished the feat in June of 2013.
The eight runs were plenty for House, who worked quickly and effectively through the raindrops. The righty needed just 85 pitches for the complete game, facing just six over the minimum. He only struck out two, but didn’t walk anyone in his fourth win of the season.
House is the first Bisons pitcher to throw a complete game shutout since Zach Wheeler on August 26, 2012.
