IL Buffalo Bisons

Collins Big Night at the Plate Paces Bisons 5-2 Win against Lehigh Valley

August 16, 2022 - International League (IL)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


BUFFALO, NY - A pair of clutch base hits by Zack Collins helped the Buffalo Bisons upend the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 5-2 on Tuesday night at Sahlen Field.

Otto Lopez led off the bottom of the first inning with a base hit and would score three batters later to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead. Collins collected his 13th RBI with the team on a sacrifice fly to score Lopez and move Spencer Horwitz to third base. Vinny Capra doubled Buffalo's lead to 2-0 with an RBI double scoring Horwitz.

Thomas Hatch worked six innings in the start for the team. The right hander recorded four strikeouts while scattering five hits and a pair of walks. Dalton Guthrie's sixth inning two-run homer off of Hatch were the only two runs surrendered and tied the game at 2-2.

Collins came through again with runners on the corners and no out in the bottom of the eighth inning. The backstop rocketed a two-run double into right center field that scored Horwitz and Gabriel Moreno. Nathan Lukes followed it up with an RBI triple that extended the lead to 5-2, and the Bisons would turn the game over to their closer in the ninth inning.

Matt Gage struck out pinch hitter Chris Sharpe to end the game, as part of a three-up and three-down top of the ninth. The lefty is a perfect 11 for 11 in save opportunities this season. He followed Julian Merryweather, who was credited with the win.

Merryweather's second Major League injury rehab appearance lasted two innings. The righty faced the minimum and struck out two for his first win in Triple-A this season. The trio of Bisons pitchers combined to retire the last 11 IronPigs hitters to secure the victory.

The Bisons and Lehigh Valley will meet on Wednesday night in Downtown Buffalo for the second game of the six-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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