IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Francis' Gem Spoiled in 1-0 Loss

Published on June 21, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


One was enough for the Syracuse Chiefs on Sunday at NBT Bank Stadium.

Tony Gwynn Jr. singled home Kevin Keyes with one out in the 10th inning as the Chiefs prevailed, 1-0, over the Bisons on Father's Day in Syracuse. The loss spoils a terrific outing from Jeff Francis, who pitched shutout baseball over eight innings for the Herd.

The defeat is the 12th time the Herd has been shutout this season and the seventh time they have lost 1-0.

Francis was brilliant in his fifth start of the season, clearly unaffected by the two hour and 11 minute rain delay that preceded Sunday's series finale between the Thruway rivals. The veteran went deeper into the game than any Herd hurler has done this year, needing just 94 pitches in his eight shutout innings.

Francis allowed just three hits and walk, while striking out a season-best seven batters. Syracuse got two of those hits in the fourth inning, after which the southpaw set down the next 13 batters.

But the Chiefs were able to outlast Francis by holding the Bisons to just five singles themselves. Against Buffalo reliever Andrew Albers in the 10th inning, Keyes led off the frame by grounding a ball through the left side of the infield. Rick Hague sacrificed the Chiefs' designated hitter into scoring position and Gwynn Jr. came through with a single to right field for the game-winning hit.

Even with the defeat, the Bisons still won the series in Syracuse, 2-1. The club is off on Monday before opening up a three-game series against Lehigh Valley at Coca-Cola Field starting Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.

BISONS NOTES:

Rehabbing Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis had two of the Bisons five hits...Buffalo did not advance a runner into scoring position until the eighth inning. The Bisons ended the game 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position...After their loss to Baltimore on Sunday, the Blue Jays announced that Phil Coke, Scott Copeland and Ryan Tepera to the Bisons.

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics

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International League Stories from June 21, 2015


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