STAFF REPORTS
When every team plays 140 games every season, it’s hard to imagine seeing something that hasn’t happened before. And then you see something you’ve never seen before!
The IronPigs scored the lone run of their 1-0 victory over the Bisons Saturday night when a routine throw to first base broke through the webbing of Jason Leblebijian‘s glove and down the right field line. The three-base error allowed Alexi Amarista to score all the way from first, spoiling a 10-strikeout performance from Herd starter, Justin Dillon.
‘When it rains, it pours’ would be an adequate statement for the Bisons right now. Not only was the game delayed an hour and 44 minutes because of showers in Allentown, PA, but the odd play dealt Buffalo their fifth loss in the last six days.
With neither team mounting much of an offensive attack, Amarista led off the sixth inning with a sharp single to right field. Five pitches later, Dean Anna produced a swinging bunt just in front of the plate. Catcher Danny Jansen jumped out of his crouch to make the play, firing the ball to Leblebijian. But the baseball literally went right through Leblebijian’s glove and down the right field line. Amarista never stopped running and came around to score the game’s only tally.
The webbing of the glove was so far beyond repair, Leblebijian was forced to finish the inning at first base with his usual infielder glove rather than with the first baseman’s mitt. But by then, the damage was done.
Dillon deserved a much better fate for the Bisons. Having been promoted from Single-A Dunedin for the start, the righty struck out 10 and walked just one in six innings of work. The Amarista single was one of only three Dillon allowed all game. Still, he ends up taking the loss with the 1-0 final.
The Bisons offense, meanwhile, was stifled yet again. The Herd has just four hits in the last two games and hasn’t scored since the fifth inning on Thursday night when Rowdy Tellez homered half way through game one of the four-game set. The club tried to create some offense in the ninth inning on Saturday when Tellez inserted in the game as a pinch hitter, but he didn’t get a chance to make a difference because pinch runner Ian Parmley was caught stealing to end the game.
The Bisons will look to salvage a game of the series on Saturday afternoon with a 1:35 p.m. first pitch.