STAFF REPORTS
With superb pitching on the mound from Luis Santos, the Bisons took advantage and grabbed a 4-1 win against Toledo on Wednesday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field.
In his seventh start of the season, Santos (2-3) gave the Herd six full innings from the mound and kept the Mud Hens in check and without a score. The righty gave up just two hits and a pair of walks in 94 pitches on the afternoon.
In response to Santos’ big day, Bisons manager Bobby Meacham said, “He’s spotted here and spotted there. We’ve had to pitch him on three days of rest a couple of times. It must’ve felt good to be on a regular turn and have a bit more in his arm to use his fastball. He’s done an outstanding job.”
Getting the Bisons on the board in the first inning was Mike Ohlman with his eighth home run of the season and his seventh at Coca-Cola Field. Ohlman was ahead in the pitch count at 3-1 when he sent a Chad Bell pitch deep to left-center field to score Dwight Smith Jr. from second base to bring the Herd up 2-0.
Later in the inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled on a line drive to left field to give the Bisons another chance to stretch their early lead. With the next at bat, Jason Leblebijian grounded a ball to left field with the hit just escaping Mud Hens shortstop Argenis Diaz. The hit reached the outfield for a single and also scored Saltalamacchia to give the Bisons their third run of the afternoon.
Dwight Smith Jr. tacked on an insurance run later in the eighth inning when he doubled on a line drive to right field to score Jake Elmore from first to give Buffalo a 4-0 advantage.
Matt Dermody and Chris Smith pitched in relief of Santos. Dermody threw for a perfect two innings, allowing no hits or walks. Smith closed the game out in the final inning, giving up the lone run of the day.
Buffalo moves to 28-22 overall with the win and play their final game of a three game set with Toledo on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. with Brett Oberholtzer (1-2, 2.27 ERA) on the mound for the Herd and Buck Farmer (1-3, 4.12 ERA) starting for the Mud Hens.
BISONS NOTES: In three of the last four starts by Santos, the righty hasn’t given up any runs while on the mound…Mike Ohlman has performed on another level at Coca-Cola Field. On top of his 7 HR’s, the catcher has 16 RBIs and is batting .300…Ohlman’s HR takes the team lead in home runs, he was previously tied with Leblebijian with a mark of 7…19 of the Bisons’ 27 wins have come from home.
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