BUFFALO – The Buffalo Bisons received solid pitching on Tuesday night at Sahlen Field and used a timely hit by the newest member of the team to defeat the Indianapolis Indians 2-0 in the series opener.
Mitch White dominated in his five-inning start, allowing just four hits and one walk. The right hander did not allow a run and struck out five to earn his first career Bisons victory in the start. The Indians had several base runners early in the game, but White’s strikeouts came at the right time to leave five stranded in the first three frames.
Leo Jimenez and Steward Berroa were both promoted to Buffalo from New Hampshire earlier in the day, and the two combined for the first run of the night. Jimenez was hit by a pitch from Indianapolis starter Cam Alldred and scored from first base on Berroa’s RBI double for a 1-0 lead.
Jimenez would leave the game in the bottom of the fourth when he was hit again. The young infielder was replaced by Tanner Morris.
Morris scored the only other run of the game after a lead-off walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tyler Heineman’s opposite field base hit moved Morris into scoring position, followed by a Berroa sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position. A passed ball charged to Grant Koch allowed Morris to score and increase Buffalo’s lead to 2-0.
The Bisons pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts in the victory. Brandon Eisert added one, while Nate Pearson struck out a pair and Rowan Wick struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning for his second save with the team.
Eisert did not allow a base runner in his league leading 51st appearance of the season. Pop surrendered just one hit, while Pearson and Wick faced the minimum in relief.
The Bisons and Indianapolis will meet on Wednesday afternoon for the final weekday matinee at Sahlen Field for the 2023 season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
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