Sports stats



IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Fall in Second Half Opener, 8-1

July 16, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Buffalo headed into the first game out of the All-Star break with momentum as winners of eight of its last 13 games, and were looking to continue its recent stretch of success in a quest for an International League title. But a team that has been firing on all cylinders recently couldn't find its groove at all on Thursday night, from the offense to the usually consistent bullpen.

The Bisons began the second half of the season with a loss to the Columbus Clippers, 8-1, in the first of a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field. Buffalo recorded five hits - only two past the fourth inning - and received a subpar pitching performance in its first loss out of the All-Star break.

"We faced a finesse guy that relied on his secondary pitches, and he threw them in good spots," said manager Gary Allenson. "We just didn't make an adjustment. We just looked for too many fastballs and fastball counts that we didn't get."

Aaron Sanchez of the Toronto Blue Jays, sidelined since June 14 with a strained lat, made a rehab start with the Herd on Thursday night. Sanchez said he made strides from his starts in Single-A Dunedin, including velocity. From the first inning on, Sanchez showcased his trademark fastball, which topped out at 98 mph. He also featured off-speed pitches which dropped to as low as 80 mph. More importantly, he felt healthy.

"Perfect. No issues. No nothing. That was the key," Sanchez said. "That's what I was trying to get out of today. If I wasn't ready to make a start here in Buffalo, I don't think I would be here. Obviously, the main thing was feeling good, and then fastball command was key ... my changeup was 88-91 today, so it's perfect if I wanted my fastball to be around 96 mph. The differential with what I get on my pitches is fine with me."

But as confident as he was about his velocity, his command was inconsistent. The big leaguer only threw 3.1 innings, but wasn't particularly impressive in any inning pitched. Of the 63 pitches he threw, only 32 landed in the strike zone. He failed to record a first-pitch strike in the second and third innings.

In the first two innings alone, the righty allowed six base runners - three via walk or hit by pitch - and allowed his only two earned runs in the stretch.

Sanchez allowed two earned runs on five hits in 3.1 innings pitched for the Herd due to a pitching limit, but also took the loss in the process. The Blue Jays will announce later in the week if Sanchez will make another rehab start with Buffalo or rejoin the rotation in Toronto.

"That's not my decision," Sanchez said of his re-assignment. "My decision is to feel healthy and to make sure I'm 100 percent so when I'm ready to pitch in Toronto or wherever I'm pitching, I'm ready. If they feel like it's one more start here, then it will do."

Buffalo's potent offense, which drove in 40 runs over its final six games played before the break, was held to five hits and only added one run in the loss. The shining offensive moment was Andy Burns' RBI single with two outs in the ninth to score Hague. Burns led the Herd in offense, going 2-for-4 with the only RBI for the Bisons in the game.

The Bisons bullpen, which is widely considered one of the best units on the Herd, gave up an uncharacteristic five earned runs, highlighted by a Jerry Sands' three-run home run in the seventh inning to officially put the game out of reach, 7-0.

The Bisons will continue play on Friday with the second game of a four-game series against Columbus. The game will begin at 7:05 p.m.

BISONS NOTES:

On Thursday, the Herd opened an eight-game home stand, and will play Syracuse in a four-game series next week ... Matt Hague went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk and Gregory Infante did not pitch one day after representing Buffalo in the MiLB All-Star Game.

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics



International League Stories from July 16, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central