MOOSIC, PA – A night after a big inning doomed the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night, the team returned the favor with an eight-run top of the seventh to defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 9-1 on Wednesday evening at PNC Field.
Gabriel Ponce opened for the Herd and went the first two innings in a no decision. The right hander allowed a solo home run to Jesus Bastidas in the bottom of the second to give the RailRiders a 1-0 lead. Ponce allowed just two hits in his start, and the next five Bisons pitchers combined to allow three more hits over the next seven frames.
The Bisons offense was held in check through six innings. Zach Greene logged three innings in his start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while Jesus Liranzo and Matt Krook followed without allowing a run.
However, the Herd brought 11 batters to the plate in the top of the seventh to break the shutout bid by the home team. At one point, eight straight Bisons reached base in the inning started by a Jamie Ritchie base hit. Mason McCoy came off the bench and hit into an RBI fielder’s choice that tied the game 1-1.
Damiano Palmegiani was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for his 13th RBI with the team to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead. It was promptly followed by a two-run double by Orelvis Martinez to extend the lead to 4-1. The big blow in the inning came thanks to Luis De Los Santos. The infielder’s third grand slam of the season capped the inning for an 8-1 advantage.
The Bisons would tack on one more run in the top of the eighth for Martinez’s third RBI of the night that scored McCoy for a 9-1 lead. Buffalo finished the night going 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was 0-for-9.
Yosver Zulueta pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts to earn his third win of the season with the Bisons. Paul Fry and Zach Pop also pitched to finish out the night for Buffalo.
Each team has a victory in the series and they will meet again on Thursday night. Wes Parsons will start for Buffalo at PNC Field, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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