IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Take Series Opener with PawSox 7-5

Published on May 19, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


After being down 4-0 in the first inning, the Bisons battled back against the Pawtucket Red Sox, taking game one of a four game series 7-5. Darrell Ceciliani gave the Herd the lead in the fourth inning, ripping a two-run double to left center field.

Pawtucket's starter Mike McCarthy, making his first start at Triple-A this season, was touched up for nine hits and seven runs, six of which were earned. McCarthy failed to hold a 4-0 lead he inherited after the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the second, Domonic Brown shot a home run to right field that carried just enough to land in the Bully Hill Party Deck, cutting the Pawtucket lead to 4-1. McCarthy allowed six more runs, and was pulled after surrendering a RBI double to Jesus Montero in the fourth.

"It's not often you come back from a four run deficit, but we were patient, got a couple runs back and took the lead, bullpen did a great job, and the final outcome was good," Manager Gary Allenson said postgame.

Second baseman Devon Travis had a successful day at the plate while Joining the Bisons on an injury rehab assignment. After singling in the first inning, Travis cut the PawSox lead to 4-2 with a RBI double in the second, scoring Casey Kotchman. Andy Burns put the Herd within one run, driving home Junior Lake with an infield single. Travis brought home another run in the fourth, via a RBI single to left center field.

"I felt really good," Travis said postgame. "It's fun playing in a little bit colder weather. It's good to get a victory. My heart was beating real fast, for sure. I was telling myself to relax, but it was awesome."

"He looks ready right now, not too far away," Allenson said.

Travis went 5-14 in four rehab games with Single-A Dunedin, as the 25-year old is working to come back from left shoulder surgery performed last October. He hit .304 in 62 games with Toronto in his MLB debut season in 2015.

Colt Hynes allowed just one hit over two innings of work out of the Bisons' bullpen, with Ben Rowen and Dustin Antolin pitching scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Antolin stranded runners on second and third in the ninth, and picked up his fourth save of the year.

The PawSox struck early off Bisons' starter Chris Leroux. Following a RBI single by Bryce Brentz, former National League All-Star Allen Craig delivered a three-run home run to left field, putting the Red Sox up 4-0. Leroux settled down, recording one-two-three second and third innings, before Chris Dominguez drove home Craig with a run-scoring double in the fourth. The righty left the bases loaded in the fifth, his final inning of work, striking out Brentz for his sixth punch-out of the ballgame. Leroux was rewarded his second win of the year, despite allowing five earned runs, his second-highest total this season.

Mitch Atkins helped to save the PawSox bullpen early in this series, pitching four and 2/3 innings, allowing a lone walk, while striking out six Bisons.

Drew Hutchison is slated to start for the Bisons in game two of the four game series on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field, with Henry Owens taking the mound for Pawtucket.

BISONS NOTES:

Devon Travis had more RBI in Thursday's game, 2, than he collected in his eight-game stint with Buffalo in 2015, when he failed to drive in any runs ... Dustin Antolin now has four saves in 2016, breaking a tie with Ryan Tepera for second most among Bisons' pitchers. He is now two shy of David Aardsma's team leading six saves... Domonic Brown extended his team lead in home runs to six on Thursday, three ahead of a trio of Bisons who each have three homers a piece.

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International League Stories from May 19, 2016


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