STAFF REPORTS
For the second straight night, a big eighth inning was the key to a Bisons victory.
Buffalo scored three times in their final at-bat, breaking through for a 6-3 win over the Chiefs on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Field.
Jake Elmore came through with the bases loaded in the eighth, driving a single to left field to plate the go-ahead run breaking a 3-3 tie. The Herd scored another run on an error by pitcher Matt Grace, who fielded a comebacker but threw the ball away attempting to get the force at the plate. The Bisons were able to pick up a third run in the inning on a wild pitch by pitcher Neal Cotts, allowing Elmore to scamper home making it 6-3.
Buffalo followed a similar formula in Monday night’s victory over the Chiefs, scoring twice in the eighth for a 8-6 victory.
Facing an early two-run deficit, Jonathan Diaz picked up the first hit of the night for the Herd in the third inning. The next batter, Roemon Fields drove the ball down the line to the right field wall allowing Diaz to score from first. Fields made it safely to third for his first triple of the season and his eighth RBI. With the tying run 90-feet away Christian Lopes hit a bouncing ball over the third baseman’s head, tying the game at 2-2.
Then with the Bisons trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Raffey Lopez evened the score once again with a two-out solo shot to deep centerfield. For the catcher, the blast was his third homerun and 11th RBI on the season.
“I went into the offseason and only took three weeks off from hitting. I tried to find a [new] bat path that works best for me, and I think I found it,” Lopez said.
Bisons starter Cesar Valdez had not allowed a hit in his first start but yielded five in Tuesday’s matchup and two hit-batsman, leading to three Chiefs runs. He was replaced after just four innings of work.
Matt Dermody entered in relief in the eighth and earned the win with a clean frame. He improved to 2-0 on the season. Murphy Smith came on to pitch the ninth to close out the Chiefs and pick up his second save of the season in three opportunities.
BISONS NOTES: The ceremonial first pitch on Tuesday night was thrown by 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Tim Raines…Prior to the game, the Blue Jays announced that they have signed C/DH Jarrod Saltalamacchia to a minor league contract. He will report to the Bisons this week…Raffey Lopez went 2-4. pushing his average to .433. He has 12 extra-base-hits and 11 RBI since joining the club…Jonathan Diaz went 2-3 with a walk…..Roemon Fields stayed hot, going 1-4 with an RBI-triple, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
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