IL Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Keep Rolling, Defeat IronPigs 4-3

Published on July 16, 2021 under International League (IL)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


After the top of the Buffalo Bisons' lineup led a pair of comebacks, it was Christian Colon's solo blast that secured the Herd's fourth straight victory over the IronPigs, 4-3.

The righty veteran came up with the game tied at three in the fifth inning and pummeled his second homer of the series and tenth of the year to give Buffalo their first and final lead of the game.

Prior to the solo long-ball, the IronPigs took their first lead of the series since Tuesday in the first inning following a Colon fielding error. The IronPigs' Mickey Moniak capitalized on the free base runner driving him home for an unearned run on a sacrifice fly.

But Breyvic Valera and Kevin Smith quickly answered picking up where they left off Thursday, leading off Friday's game with a double and a bunt single. Colon shadowed their efforts driving a double into the left-field corner to score Valera and tie the game.

Lehigh Valley retook the lead 3-1, in the fourth inning by way of an Austin Listi groundball RBI single and another sacrifice fly, this time by Rueben Tejada.

After reaching on his first two at-bats, Smith showed off the speed in the fourth inning lining a bouncing ball into left field, under the left fielder's glove and to the wall for a game-tying two-RBI triple.

Smith, hitting out the two-hole, finished the night with three base hits, a walk and a pair of RBI's which tied for Triple-A East lead with 47. Valera, leading off, finished with an equally as impressive night collecting three hits and scoring twice to help lead the comeback.

But the penultimate swing came from Colon's bat as he struck again in fifth to tie the game.

Lefty Zach Logue made the start for Buffalo, his fifth appearance of the year, and put together a solid five innings allowing four runs, striking out a pair and to earn the win.

After Logue left with the 4-3 lead, Connor Overton took over and worked extensively in relief allowing no runs over 2.1 innings to keep Buffalo in control. Hobie Harris received the ninth and picked up his second save of the series and sixth of the season.

Buffalo has dominated the season series over Leigh Valley 8-2 in 2021 but it has been no cakewalk with five of the victories being by one run.

Buffalo Bisons' manager Casey Candaele doesn't feel he can point to one key in Buffalo's recent success in close games, but he couldn't help but credit the bullpen for the team's success late Friday.

"The bullpen did it again and did a great job of coming in and shutting them down," said Candaele. "When we need to run we go out and scratch one across and when we need to hold them we have been able to do that."

With their fourth series victory in the last five weeks clinched with Friday's win, the Bisons will look to extend their game win streak to five Saturday at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. Righty reliever Casey Lawrence is expected to make the start for the Bisons against the IronPigs with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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International League Stories from July 16, 2021


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