STAFF REPORTS
Patrick Kivlehan‘s three-run homer in the top of the ninth capped an impressive late-inning rally for the Bisons in an 8-4 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday night from BB&T Ballpark. The Herd scored the final eight runs of the contest to put themselves in position to sweep a team they are battling with for postseason position.
Buffalo and Charlotte entered the second game of their three-game series in North Carolina with identical 53-48 records, which tied them for second place in the league’s Wild Card race. The Bisons then entered the sixth inning of Wednesday’s contest staring at a four-run deficit.
But the Herd began to chip away. Reese McGuire singled home Rowdy Tellez with one gone in the sixth to get Buffalo on the scoreboard and Jordan Patterson drove home Richard Urena with a double to right later in the frame.
In the seventh, Urena came through with a soft fly ball single to left that cashed in Jonathan Davisfrom third after the centerfielder tripled to get on base.
From there, the longball took over. Leading off the eighth inning, Jordan Patterson hit a 1-2 pitch from Knights’ reliever Connor Walsh halfway to Buffalo. The towering blast that exited the ballpark over the screen in right field was his 13th of the season and knotted the score at four.
With the game tied, Kivlehan went opposite field with a three-run shot to give the Bisons the lead. His 19th of the season snuck just inside the foul pole in right field.
Buffalo added even more insurance when Patterson tripled and scored on Alen Hanson‘s double. Patterson finished the game 3-for-5 and a single away from the cycle.
Davis a double and a triple and yet another highlight-reel catches in center. With the Knights already ahead 3-0 in the third, Davis crashed into the wall in center to rob Charlotte’s first baseman Seby Zavala of a sure RBI-double.
Connor Fisk earned the win for Buffalo with two innings of shutout relief. He struck out three and didn’t issue a walk to improve to 3-5 on the season.
T.J. Zeuch started for the Bisons and battled through six innings. He allowed 10 hits and issued five walks, but limited the Knights to just four runs.
The Bisons will go for the three-game sweep on Thursday night with a 7:04 p.m. first pitch from Charlotte.
