STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — On one hit wonder night at Coca-Cola Field, one hit was all the Bisons would need.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. launched an opposite field grand slam to lead the Bisons to a 5-1 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Friday night in downtown Buffalo. Ryan Borucki added a gem on the mound, allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings for his third win of the season.
Gurriel Jr. joined the Bisons on Monday after making the leap from Double-A straight to the Blue Jays. So, even after playing 20 games in the big leagues, his Coca-Cola Field debut was just the second game of his Triple-A career. And his first hit at this level was a big one.
The Bisons loaded the bases in the fourth as the first three batters of the inning reached safely. Devon Travis hit a sharp single into left field, and after Danny Jansen draw a walk, Rowdy Tellezdropped another single over the shift and into right field. Gurriel Jr. then worked the count against RailRiders starter Daniel Camarena to 3-1. With no place to put the Bisons’ shortstop, Camarena had to come over the plate and Gurriel Jr. made him pay by launching the ball into the berm to the left of the Bully Hill Party Deck.
The grand slam was Gurriel Jr.’s first career Triple-A hit. He hit two homers while posting a .206 average with the Blue Jays.
That one hit was more than enough offense for Borucki. The southpaw allowed just three hits while striking out six. He got 11 groundball outs and faced just four over the minimum to lower his season average to 3.40. Only one Scranton/Wilkes-Barre runner reached second base against Borucki.
The Bisons added to their lead in the fifth inning when Rowdy Tellez drove home Tim Lopes with a sacrifice fly. The RailRiders broke the shutout bid in the ninth inning when Shane Robinsontripled and scored on a Herd fielding error.
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