IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Hague, Bisons Fall Short in 7-4 Defeat

August 24, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


With Matt Hague back in the Bisons lineup, the Herd nearly pulled off a comeback for the ages on Monday night in Lehigh Valley. Instead, the Herd fell short in a 7-4 loss to the IronPigs from Coca-Cola Field.

Hague's two-run single was just one of six hits the Bisons strung together in consecutive fashion in the ninth inning of a game that looked to be all Lehigh Valley. But with the bases loaded and still nobody out, former Bisons' reliever Dustin McGowan got the 'Pigs out of the jam to hand Buffalo their third straight defeat.

The Bisons trailed 7-1 entering the final frame, having produced just four hits in the first eight innings and none since Jon Berti's two-out single in the fourth. Sean Ochinko led off the ninth with a bullet into left field and Berti singled sharply into center. As the card turned over, Dalton Pompey loaded the bases by dunking one in front of Lehigh Valley's Brian Bogusevic in centerfield.

Three more hits would come as Munenori Kawasaki drove in Ochinko and Hague plated two more for his league-best 84th and 85th RBI of the season. When Hassan singled for the third time on the night, the Bisons had the bases loaded again with the tying run on base.

The rally turned just as fast as it had started with McGowan getting a couple a quick outs. Andy Burns swung at the first pitch and hit into a fielder's choice as his line drive just fell out of the glove of shortstop Chase d'Arnaud. Chris Heisey also gave a hack at the first offering and fouled out to the catcher. McGowan then got a weak roller to first base off the bat of Caleb Gindl to end the comeback attempt.

For a large part of Monday's contest, the IronPigs were in complete control. Back-to-back doubles on consecutive pitches to Gabriel Lino and Tyler Henson from Herd starter Jeff Francis gave Lehigh Valley three runs in the second. Former Bison catcher Erik Kratz then had an RBI-double in the third and a two-run single in fourth to build just enough cushion for Lehigh Valley to absorb the Bisons' comeback attempt.

Francis took the loss for Buffalo to fall to 5-3 on the season. The veteran lefty allowed six runs (four earned) in four innings of work. The IronPigs scored another unearned run in the seventh as the Bisons committed two errors in the game.

BISONS NOTES:

With 85 RBI on the season, Matt Hague has matched the RBI total of former Bison Jhonny Peralta when the shortstop won his International League MVP award in 2004...Sean Ochinko was promoted to the Bisons from Double-A New Hampshire on Monday with catcher Jorge Saez returning to Single-A Dunedin...The Bisons have 18 hits in their last three games, but none have gone for extra bases.

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics



International League Stories from August 24, 2015


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