WORCESTER, MA – The Buffalo Bisons split a doubleheader against the Worcester Red Sox on Thursday night at Polar Park. Buffalo dropped the opener of the twin bill 4-1, while winning in the night cap 2-1 thanks to late-game offense.
In the opener, Zach Thompson worked the first 3.1 innings for the Herd. The right hander struck out three while allowing three runs on six hits. Worcester scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as four straight batters reached base with two outs.
Wilyer Abreu drove in Bobby Dalbec with an RBI double to open the offense, then scored on an RBI base hit off the bat of Daniel Palka.
Buffalo’s lone run came thanks to four walks in the top of the third inning against starter Bryan Mata. The righty walked Spencer Horwitz with the bases loaded to bring in Davis Schneider and trim the deficit to 2-1. The RBI was Horwitz’s team leading 14th of the year.
However, David Hamilton belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to extend Worcester’s lead to 4-1 after four frames. The two RBIs increased Hamilton’s season total to 15. Joely Rodriguez was credited with the win in a Major League injury rehab outing. Chase Shugart recorded his third save of the year as Thompson was saddled with the loss.
In the night cap, a pitcher’s duel prevented either team from scoring through the first five innings. Yosver Zulueta logged the first three frames for Buffalo in a no decision. The starter struck out four batters in his three innings of work, allowing just one hit and walking three.
Hayden Juenger worked a pair of scoreless innings with three punch outs of his own. The Herd pitching staff struck out a combined 10 batters in the victory.
The WooSox scored a lone run in the top of the sixth inning on a Greg Allen RBI single off of Luke Bard. The righty notched his first victory of the season with an inning of relief work.
Both of Buffalo’s runs came against Matt Dermody in the bottom of the sixth. A one out base hit by Cameron Eden put the tying run on base, and the next batter was Rafael Lantigua. The Herd’s starting third baseman hit an RBI double that tied the game 1-1.
Lantigua promptly scored on an Ernie Clement RBI groundout to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead. Paul Fry pitched the top of the seventh and despite allowing a lead off walk to Hamilton, induced a ground ball double play that helped secure the win and his second save of the season.
Buffalo served as the home team in the night cap due to a rain out at Sahlen Field on April 6. The two teams will play a single game on Friday night starting at 6:45 p.m.
Upcoming games:
Buffalo Bisons vs. Syracuse Mets
Sahlen Field 1 James D Griffin Plaza, Buffalo, NYBuffalo Bisons vs. Syracuse Mets
Sahlen Field 1 James D Griffin Plaza, Buffalo, NYAll WNY is made possible thanks to coffee and sleep deprivation.
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