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IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Copeland Strong as Bisons Blank Bats, 4-0

June 4, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


There was no rust for Scott Copeland on Thursday night.

Making his first start since May 14, the righty worked the first five innings a 4-0 Bisons' shutout win over the Bats from Louisville Slugger Field. Three Herd relievers finished off the three-hit masterpiece to get Buffalo back to the .500 mark at 26-26.

Jonathan Diaz chipped in three hits in the win, including his second triple of the season.

It had been three weeks since Copeland last took the ball to start a game at any level. The righty was called up twice to the Blue Jays in that time, but did not pitch in either stint. His only game action since the middle of May came in a relief effort five days ago at Coca-Cola Field.

So on Thursday, you could excuse Copeland if he showed a little bit of rust. Instead, the righty allowed just two singles and two walks in five frames to earn his fourth win of the season. Copeland induced nine outs on the ground, including two on a first-inning doubleplay that erased the only two free passes he issued on the night. That started a string of 10 consecutive batters retired that got the Herd deep into the game.

Copeland also struck out five batters, none bigger than catching Ryan LaMarre looking in the fourth inning with two Bats on base.

Jeff Francis, Colt Hynes and Bobby Korecky finished off the shutout, picking up four combined strikeouts and allowing just one more Louisville hit.

While Copeland was sharp, the Bats looked off in their first game home after a six-game roadtrip. Louisville committed five errors, including miscues on consecutive plays in the third inning that led the game's first run. Sean Ochinko led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base when shortstop Eugenio Suarez threw the ball away. Pitcher David Holmberg then misplayed Diaz's sacrifice bunt, advancing Ochinko to third base and in position to score on Matt Hague's sacrifice fly.

In the fourth, Ochinko and Diaz each had RBI-singles to give the Bisons a 3-0 cushion. Diaz capped his perfect day at the plate in the seventh when he tripled to left field in front of Chris Dickersons' RBI-single.

Overall, the Bisons outhit Louisville, 9-3 in the win.

BISONS NOTES:

Prior to the game, the Bisons activated catcher Josh Thole, who was optioned by the Blue Jays during their doubleheader in Washington on Tuesday. Catcher A.J. Jimenez was placed on the disabled list...Matt Hague's sacrifice fly gave him an International League-best 35 RBI...The International League announced that Hague leads all position players in fan voting for the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game after the first week of online balloting.

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