STAFF REPORTS
The Bisons suffered their first loss of the season with a 3-1 defeat to the Pawtucket Paw Sox on Tuesday night from McCoy Stadium.
This was a pitching duel from the start as Ryan Borucki was locked in against Pawtucket’s William Cuevas. Cuevas eventually picked up the win in 6.1 total innings of work allowing just three hits while racking up six strikeouts.
Cuevas held the Bisons hitless for four innings until Tim Lopes broke through with hard-hit grounder that ricocheted off the glove of Paw Sox shortstop Mike Miller in the top of the fifth inning. Danny Jansen, who was hit by a pitch in the previous at bat, advanced to second on the play. A fly ball to deep right-centerfield then allowed Jansen to tag up to third base. Buffalo’s scoring chance was foiled when Jon Berti lined out to center to end the inning.
The Paw Sox broke the scoreless tie in the bottom half of the fifth beginning with a leadoff walk issued to Miller. Rusney Castillo, the Paw Sox leadoff hitter, followed up with a sharp grounder that caromed off Borucki for an infield single. After another single by Ivan De Jesus, Sam Travis grounded one passed the infield and into to center to give the Paw Sox a 2-0 lead.
Pawtucket tacked on another insurance run in the sixth to take a 3-0 advantage after a Castillo sacrifice fly that scored Chad De La Guerra.
Buffalo had an opportunity brewing in the top half of the ninth inning when Rowdy Tellez worked a 3-2 count and a walk. A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed Tellez to get to third, however, two consecutive strikeouts left Tellez on third with the Bisons down to their final out. One batter later, Lopes connected for his second hit of the night lacing a line drive to centerfield which scored Tellez for the lone Bisons run of the game.
Roneis Elias, who took the mound in the ninth, collected the save for the Paw Sox, ultimately sealing the Bisons’ fate with a final score of 3-1.
