BUFFALO, NY – Casey Lawrence led on the mound with six strong innings and the Buffalo Bisons offense struck early en route to a 7-4 victory over the Syracuse Mets on Thursday night at Sahlen Field.
The Bisons got to Syracuse starter David Peterson early and often. They would draw first blood in the bottom of the 1st on the strength of a double by Jordan Luplow. It would be an unearned run with no RBI awarded as an error by Ronny Mauricio allowed Otto Lopez to go first to home. Lopez’s infield single provided the opportunity for Buffalo to score first.
Buffalo would add onto its lead one inning later. A single by Jamie Ritchie and an infield single by Luis De Los Santos gave the Bisons runners on first and second with nobody out.
Despite having the next two batters retired, the Bisons still had a golden opportunity to add onto its lead thanks to a stolen base by the team’s leader in stolen bases, Cam Eden. Eden’s 27th stolen base of the season set up Rafael Lantigua to drive in two runs via a single to right which extended Buffalo’s lead to 3-0. Lantigua had himself a terrific night at the plate, going 3-5 with those two aforementioned RBIs as well as a run scored.
After a one-inning hiatus, the Bisons got right back to scoring runs in the bottom of the 4th. De Los Santos continued his productive night by drawing a leadoff walk and Trevor Schwecke wasted no time driving him in with his first home run, and RBIs number four and five, of the season. Buffalo’s lead at this point was a comfortable 5-0 advantage.
The Mets would finally get to Bisons starter Casey Lawrence in the top of the 6th . Mauricio would make up for his error in the 1st with a leadoff home run. Lawrence then walked the next batter, who would eventually score on a sacrifice fly to cut Buffalo’s lead to 5-2.
It was an otherwise strong night for Lawrence as he would tie the longest start of the season by a starting pitcher for the team. He earned the victory and third quality start of the season with six innings of one earned run, three hits allowed and six strikeouts.
The Bisons wasted little time adding onto their lead after Lawrence exited. Lantigua’s third single of the night provided the chance for Davis Schneider to add onto Buffalo’s lead and he delivered with an RBI double.
Mauricio’s second home run of the game in the top of the 8th was answered by an RBI triple by Lopez to drive in Schwecke in the bottom of the inning. Thomas Nido would hit the third home run of the night for Syracuse in the top of the 9th to make the score a little closer at 7-4 but that would be all. Three consecutive strikeouts after a walk would end any hopes of a Mets rally.
The Bisons and Mets will meet at Sahlen Field again on Friday night for the fourth game of the six-game set. Buffalo’s starter is not known at this time while Syracuse will send RHP Jose Butto (1-2, 6.37) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
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