Bisons Earn Much Needed Win, Beat IronPigs 10-1
July 17, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release
Coming in losing 10 of their last 14 games, Buffalo outhit Lehigh Valley 20-3, thanks to multi-hit games by seven Herd hitters, and a strong outing by starter Casey Lawrence.
The IronPigs were looking for their first sweep of the Bisons since entering IL in 2008, taking the first three games of a four-game series. Instead, the Bisons beat their IL North rival in their final road game against Lehigh Valley this season.
A tremendous start for Casey Lawrence was rewarded with his second win as a Bison. The righty tossed 6.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Lawrence held Lehigh Valley to one hit, one walk and no runs for the first six innings.
The Herd took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With Ben Lively on the mound for the 'Pigs, a leadoff nine-pitch walk to Dalton Pompey and a Jesus Montero single brought up Darrell Cecilaini. The Bisons' left fielder lined a shot into left, when Pompey chugged home to beat a throw from Cam Perkins. Buffalo tacked-on nine more runs to hit double-digit runs for the first time since June 4.
Shane Opitz went 2-5 in collecting his first two Triple-A hits, coming up big in the fourth inning. A pair of singles brought up Opitz with one out, and the 24-year old shortstop lined a single that scored Casey Kotchman. A batter later, Dalton Pompey dropped a single into right field, scoring two more runs, bringing the Herd's lead to 4-0.
Buffalo went up 6-0 in the fifth, loading the bases against Lively. Casey Kotchman grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, scoring Montero in the process. Wilkin Castillo then doubled to bring home Ceciliani, knocking Lively out of the ballgame.
Dalier Hinojosa took over for Lively in the fifth, and allowed three runs in the sixth. A Dalton Pompey triple was followed by a Domonic Brown RBI single in the frame. Brown came across to score on a fielder's choice by Ceciliani, and Kotchman picked up a RBI single, making it a 9-0 game.
Another RBI single by Pompey made it 10-1 Buffalo against reliever Elvis Araujo in the top of the ninth. Pompey finished the afternoon 4-5 with three RBI.
Going 3-4 was Wilkin Castillo, who picked up his first RBI as a Bison. Every Buffalo hitter had at least one hit, except Matt Dominguez, with seven batters having multi-hit games.
Casey Lawrence retired 11 of the first 12 hitters he faced, not allowing a hit until Andrew Knapp singled in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nick Williams doubled to lead off the seventh to become the IronPigs' first baserunner since the fourth. Lehigh Valley finally got on the scoreboard two batters later, as Max Stassi ripped a double to score Williams.
Matt Dermody relieved Lawrence with a runner on second and two outs in the seventh, striking out Cedric Hunter looking. Franklin Morales appeared in his 10th rehab game with Buffalo, pitching a scoreless eighth inning. 2016 Triple-A All-Star Dustin Antolin sealed the win in the ninth.
Ben Lively was roughed up for 10 hits and six runs, three of which were earned, pitching his shortest outing of 2016, lasting 4.2 innings. It was also a rough game defensively for the IronPigs, who committed three errors.
Ryan Goins sat out Sunday's game, after playing in both Friday and Saturday's contests. The Blue Jays' second baseman is rehabbing with the Bisons, after being placed on the disabled list on July 2 with a forearm strain.
The Herd returns home on Monday to take on the Norfolk Tides for a three-game series. Drew Hutchison will take the bump for Buffalo, his first start at Triple-A since a win against Louisville on June 28. Ariel Miranda is scheduled to pitch for Norfolk, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field.
BISONS NOTES:
The 20 hits the Bisons totaled is their new season-high, besting their previous high of 19 set on June 4... Dalton Pompey went 4-5, as his batting average on the road increases to .333... Jesus Montero passed Casey McGehee of Toledo for the IL lead in hits with his first inning single, his 107th base knock of the season. He added two more hits later in the game.... In 10 rehab games with the Bisons, Franklin Morales has tossed nine shutout outings, owning a 1.13 ERA in 8.0 innings of work.
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