STAFF REPORTS
The Herd’s offense exploded in their return home as they beat the IronPigs 8-2 Friday night at Coca-Cola Field.
Buffalo won their third straight, taking the first of a three game homestand. A double play with the bases loaded got the Bisons out of a jam in the fifth just before the game went into a rain delay. After a 51-minute delay the game was called giving Buffalo the win in five innings.
The Bisons got the bats going early with three knocks in the first frame. A pair of singles by Dwight Smith Jr. and Rowdy Tellez put two on for the Herd. With two outs, Teoscar Hernandez ripped a ball just beyond the reach of the left fielder as it banged off the wall for a two-run double. The hit was Hernandez’ first as a member of the Bisons to make it 2-0 in the first.
Buffalo extended their lead with five more runs in the third. Christian Lopes kicked off the inning with a single into center. Another base knock for Smith Jr. allowed Lopes to reach third, an error by the right fielder Dylan Cozens allowed Smith Jr. to advance to second on the play. As the infield was drawn in, Tellez drilled a ball back up the middle to score Lopes and put runners on the corners. A slow grounder to third forced a play at the plate as Smith Jr. just beat the tag, sliding in safe at home. Still with two runners on, Danny Jensen recorded his first hit for the Bisons with a bases-clearing double into right. The throw allowed Jensen to make it to third safely. The Herd scored another run with a sacrifice fly from Jake Elmore. Buffalo held a 7-0 lead after the third frame.
Roemon Fields picked up his first hit on the night with a single to leadoff the fifth. He grabbed his 33rd stolen base of the season to move into scoring position at second. With his third base hit of the game, Smith Jr. drove in Fields to extend Buffalo’s lead to 8-1.
The Bisons will look to stay hot taking on the IronPigs Saturday night in game two. First Pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Bisons Notes: Dwight Smith Jr. was 3-3 with a RBI and two runs scored… Rowdy Tellez went 2-3 with a RBI and two runs scored… both Teoscar Hernandez and Danny Jensen picked up their first hits and RBI with Buffalo.
