ALLENTOWN, PA – The Buffalo Bisons defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 14-9 in a back-and-forth battle on Saturday night at Coca-Cola Park thanks to five home runs, including a pair by L.J. Talley.
Davis Schneider put the Herd out to an early 2-0 lead when he hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. It was Schneider’s third home run of the series and 11th of the season, which puts him at the top of the Bisons home run leaderboard.
The IronPigs didn’t waste any time scoring either as Weston Wilson grounded out to the shortstop in the top of the first, scoring Jack Cave and cutting the Bisons lead in half, 2-1.
Talley kept the home runs coming for Buffalo as he hit a three-run blast to left field, scoring Rob Brantly and Otto Lopez in the top of the second, extending the Bisons lead to 5-1. The home run party didn’t stop there as Rafael Lantigua made the score 6-1 when he hit a solo shot to left center field.
The IronPigs kept chipping away at the Bisons lead when John Hicks made the score 6-2 in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to center field, scoring Scott Kingery. Cave made it a one-run game with a three-run homer to center field, bringing the score to a close 6-5.
The Herd gave themselves a larger lead in the top of the fourth when Talley scored on a throwing error by IronPigs catcher Hicks, giving Buffalo a 7-5 lead. Cameron Eden was also able to steal second base on the throwing error, his 20th stolen base of the year which leads the Bisons. Tanner Morris tacked on another run for Buffalo, making the score 8-5, when he singled to right field, scoring Eden.
Cave racked up his fourth RBI of the game for the IronPigs in the bottom of the fourth when he grounded out to first baseman Talley, scoring Hicks and bringing the score to 8-6.
The IronPigs pulled the score back within one when Jim Haley doubled in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing Wilson to round home and score, 8-7. The IronPigs took the lead 9-8 when Hicks doubled to center field, scoring two runners.
The Herd keep the back-and-forth theme of the game going when Lopez made the score 10-9 when he reached on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh, scoring Spencer Horwitz and Wynton Bernard. Talley made his mark on this game in a loud way once again when he hit his second three-run home run of the game, giving Buffalo a 13-9 lead.
Horwitz put the icing on the cake for the Herd in the bottom of the eight when he made the score 14-9 with a solo shot to left field, Buffalo’s fifth home run of the night and sixth of the series.
The Bisons and the Lehigh Valley are set to close out this six-game set on Sunday with a 6:35 scheduled first pitch. RHP Drew Hutchison is set to get the ball for the Bisons and LHP Cristopher Sanchez is slated to take the mound for the opposing IronPigs.
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