TOLEDO, OH – The Buffalo Bisons earned a 5-4 extra innings win over the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field on Thursday night. The Bisons used a strong start from Paxton Schultz and a good offensive start to win their second game in three tries against the Mud Hens.
Buffalo got on the board first thanks to an RBI single by the team’s leader in RBIs, Davis Schneider. Schneider drove in Otto Lopez, who had a single in the inning himself. In addition to getting the first run of the game, the Bisons made Toledo’s starter, Zach Logue, throw 24 pitches in the inning.
Buffalo would add on to their lead in the third thanks largely to the efforts of Lopez. After drawing a walk, he appeared to be caught in a pickoff throw to first. Instead, Lopez stole second on the play before advancing to third on a flyout and then was driven in for the second time of the game on an RBI single by the team’s leader in batting average, Spencer Horwitz.
The Bisons would further add on to their lead in the top of the fifth. A lead-off double by Tanner Morris followed by a walk on four pitches and Lopez’s second single of the game loaded the bases with no outs. A two-run double by Ernie Clement gave Buffalo its largest lead of the night, 4-0.
The Mud Hens would respond in their half of the fifth. On an otherwise clean start for Paxton Schultz, he did walk two batters, throw a wild pitch and allow a leadoff single to Michael Papierski in his final inning of work. Despite the troubles, Schultz escaped the no outs bases loaded jam with only one run allowed. He would finish his Bisons debut with five innings pitched of one run ball and six strikeouts.
Walks would then become a major problem for Buffalo’s bullpen in the bottom of the seventh. It was an especially rough appearance for Jackson Rees, who walked three Toledo batters, allowed two singles and two runs all without recording an out. Jimmy Burnette would enter for Rees and clean up most of the mess with two strikeouts and a flyout but did allow the game tying run on another walk.
In total, the Mud Hens sent nine batters to the plate in the inning. They only had two hits but drew four walks to do plenty of damage.
Neither team could grab the lead prior to the end of the ninth inning. Aneurys Zabala was dominant in his two innings of work for Toledo, striking out six batters while not allowing a hit. Kyle Johnston was also strong in his two innings of work for the Bisons. He did not allow a hit or base runner.
In extra innings, Buffalo would draw first blood thanks to an RBI single by Luis De Los Santos after Schneider was walked. The Mud Hens were unable to respond in the bottom of the 10th as Matt Peacock earned his first save of the season.
The teams will meet on Friday night back at Fifth Third Field for the fourth game of the six game set. The Bisons have yet to announce a starter for Friday night, while Toledo will send Bryan Sammons to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.
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