STAFF REPORTS
The Bisons capped off a week-long homestand on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 win over Pawtucket at Coca-Cola Field. Raffy Lopez batted in the game-winning home run in the sixth inning to seal the victory for Buffalo in front of a crowd of 6,529.
Sitting two pitches ahead in the count over Pawtucket’s Henry Owens (3-3), Lopez blasted a homer to right field to give the Herd a 2-1 advantage over the Red Sox. The solo home run was Lopez’s second of the weekend dating back to Friday’s 13-inning marathon and his fifth at the Triple-A level this season.
Lopez has been on a tear this season, batting .372 in 13 Triple-A games. When asked about his performance thus far, he responded, “I try to keep my routine the same every day. I switched my mechanics up and started hitting a little earlier this offseason. I’ve just tried to make a change that could help out and I think I’ve found that.”
Pawtucket’s lone run of the afternoon came from the Boston Red Sox’s Brock Holt when he sent a Leonel Campos pitch to right field and out of the park. Holt’s been rehabbing with Pawtucket because of vertigo.
The Bisons tied the game up earlier at one apiece thanks to a line drive double to left field from Jonathan Diaz, scoring Ian Parmley from first base.
Buffalo had many other chances to rack up runs on the board throughout the day, stranding players on third base on three separate occasions. Two of those trips to third were from Christian Lopes, including his leadoff triple to left field to open the game.
Jeff Beliveau had the spot start for the Bisons in place of newly promoted Cesar Valdez. Beliveau opened the game with a hitless performance and just one walk in three innings on the mound. Leonel Campos, Matt Dermody (4-0), and Murphy Smith (S, 3) all contributed two innings of work in relief, allowing a combined four hits and one run.
The Herd will now make their way down to Atlanta after an off day to play a three-game series with the Gwinnett Braves. First pitch for game one is slated for 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday. The Braves currently have a 21-20 record, good for third in the IL-South Division.
BISONS NOTES: Buffalo closes out this home stand against Syracuse and Pawtucket with a 5-2 record…Beliveau’s spot start was his first since 2009 when he played for the Peoria Chiefs…The Bisons are now 8-6 in one-run games…Dwight Smith Jr. and Ian Parmley each went 2-4 on the day…After nor registering a hit in today’s game, Roemon Fields 14-game hit streak came to a close.
