STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A late Bisons charge against the Syracuse bullpen fell short in an 11-8 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday afternoon from Coca-Cola Field. Buffalo scored the final seven runs of the game, but an early 10-run deficit was too much for the team to overcome in their homestand finale.
Even with the loss, the Bisons finished their seven-day stay in Buffalo with a 5-2 record.
While the Bisons struggled until the middle innings against Chiefs’ starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, the Herd touched up the Syracuse bullpen in the late innings to mount a rally that ultimately wasn’t enough to best the Chiefs.
Danny Jansen was at the heart of the Bisons comeback attempt. The catcher doubled in each of his last three at-bat, using the gaps to drive home three of the Herd’s final seven runs. He doubled and scored as part of a two-run sixth that made the score 11-3. Then in the eight, he drove in two runs with a drive to center that plated Richard Urena and Rowdy Tellez. His third two-bagger came with two outs in the ninth, scoring the Herd’s final run.
Trailing 11-5 in the ninth, The Bisons clawed back as Darnell Sweeney and Ian Parmley got on base by way of a walk and a fielding error respectively. Dalton Pompey delivered a clutch at bat with a double to bring home both runners. Jansen mustered the Herd within reach of the lead with yet another double, but with two outs, was left stranded to end the ball game.
Before the Bisons got to work against the bullpen, Jackson made quick work of the Herd offense in the early innings. Jackson held Buffalo to six hits in the six-full innings he tossed. He also struck out seven Bisons’ hitters without issuing a walk to secure the winning decision.
Right-hander Sean Reid-Foley made his Triple A debut for the Bisons after receiving a promotion to Buffalo earlier in the day. The 22-year old sat down the Chiefs in order during his opening frame, but ran into trouble in the second and third innings.
Reid-Foley yielded three runs in the second after Chiefs left fielder Yadiel Hernandez hit a two-run double to left field. The nine-hole hitter, Bengie Gonzalez, brought in the third run of the inning, slapping a single to right field.
Syracuse broke the game open and batted through the order in the third inning while plating five runs. Matt Reynolds, Jacob Wilson, Irving Falu, Hernandez and Gonzalez all had RBI in the inning.
Syracuse tacked on two more runs in their half of the fourth, but the damage came to an end after an outstanding grab by first baseman Rowdy Tellez, who dove to his left completely horizontal to rob Gonzalez of his third hit of the game.
The Bisons will travel to nearby Rochester to take on the Red Wings for a six-game set to makeup postponed games earlier in the season. The series begins with a doubleheader Friday. First pitch of Game one is slated for 5:05 p.m.
