STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tom Pannone had a quality start, but Buffalo dropped the first game of their final series against Lehigh Valley this season, 2-0, Monday night from Coca-Cola Field.
The Bisons had difficulty manufacturing runs while the IronPigs posted a two spot in their first-turn at-bat which was the only frame runs were scored in the game.
Pannone’s outing lasted 6.2 innings as he eclipsed the 100-pitch mark. He allowed a two-run home run to Joey Meneses in the first inning but settled down to strike out six batters while only giving up two total hits. He exited the game on a high note after fanning Aaron Altherr.
“I felt good overall,” Pannone said about his start. “I had a good three-pitch mix working. I was getting ahead of a good amount of guys.”
“It was good to see him after that home run [to] not fade at all,” Bisons manager Bobby Meacham said about Pannone’s outing. “If he made one mistake with a pitch even if it wasn’t a hit, he came back and made a quality pitch right after that. It was a really outstanding performance.”
Danny Jansen started a rally in the bottom of the ninth by leading off the inning with a sharp single to left field, however, he was left stranded on base.
The Bisons also had a quality chance to counter in the second but the attempt was unsuccessful. Buffalo got two runners into scoring position with no outs in the inning after Rowdy Tellez walked and Anthony Alford doubled, but neither crossed home plate.
Billy McKinney has four hits in as many games since joining the Bisons during the Herd’s latest the latest road trip. Meacham commented that he has seen good things out of the 23-year-old outfielder thus far.
“Billy’s got a ton of ability and he’s got to let it all hang out, let it rip,” Meacham said. “I love what I see in Billy McKinney. He’s got a lot of talent and it’s going to come out.”
Despite the loss, Buffalo outhit Lehigh Valley by two. The Herd went 0-6 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.
