IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Prevail in Home Opener, 2-1

Published on April 14, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Scott Diamond
Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Scott Diamond
(Buffalo Bisons)

On a sun-splashed Opening Day at Coca-Cola Field, no one shined brighter than the Bisons' starting pitcher.

Scott Diamond fired seven innings of six-hit baseball and the Herd struck for two late runs in a 2-1 victory over the Rochester Red Wings on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. The southpaw struck out five, improving to 2-0 on the season and lowering his ERA to 1.50.

All the fanfare was in place for the 29th Home Opener in Coca-Cola Field history. Blue Jays legend Roberto Alomar threw out the ceremonial first pitch and a crowd of 13,102 welcomed the return of baseball to downtown Buffalo. And they all were treated to a good one.

Diamond locked horns with Herd-killer Pat Dean in a fantastic pitcher's duel that took just eight minutes longer than two hours to complete. Neither pitcher allowed a runner to advance past second base over the first five innings. Dean, who was 3-0 against the Bisons a season ago, set down 16 of the first 18 batters he saw.

For his part, Diamond was as equally tough. The lefty struck out five and walked none for his second straight start. Diamond allowed two singles in the first inning, but induced slugger Kennys Vargas to hit into an inning ending doubleplay. That started a string of 13 of 15 batters retired for the Guelph, Ontario-native.

The Red Wings did get on the board in the sixth as Buck Britton doubled to centerfield to score former Bison. But Diamond set down the next five batters to close out his outing as the Bisons' bats got to work.

Dalton Pompey started a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double into the right field corner. Andy Burns followed by rolling a ball through the infield and into center to even the game.

Buffalo then took advance of a Rochester fielding error in the seventh. Heiker Meneses' throw on Jesus Montero's grounder to third skipped to first. Two batters later, Junior Lake doubled sharply to left, allowing the Bisons designated hitter to score.

The combo of Ryan Tepera and David Aardsma nailed down the win. Tepera struck out the side in the eighth inning and Aardsma worked around a one-out walk to earn his third save of the season.

BISONS NOTES:

No Bisons batters struck out in Thursday's game...The Bisons pitching staff has not allowed more than four runs in any of the team's first eight games of 2016...The Coca-Cola Field crowd of 13,102 was the team's largest Home Opening crowd sine 2013 -the first year affiliated with the Blue Jays...Andy Burns finished the game 2-4 with an RBI...The Bisons activated RHP Bobby Korecky prior to Thursday's game.

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics

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Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Scott Diamond
Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Scott Diamond
   



International League Stories from April 14, 2016


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