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IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Notebook: Bisons' Starters Key to Team's Success

June 1, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Chris Leroux
Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Chris Leroux
(Buffalo Bisons)

The Herd's steady rise above the .500 mark over the last few weeks can certainly be attributed to the club's strong starting pitching.

Bolstered by Wade LeBlanc, who leads the IL in innings pitched and is tied for the lead in wins with 5. The 31-year-old lefty is also in the top five in the league in ERA and strikeouts, as of June 1. LeBlanc has not allowed an earned run in his last 33 innings.

Four of Chris Leroux's last five appearances have resulted in the righty not yielding an earned run, and his ERA sits at 2.82.

Drew Hutchison, who finally picked up his first career Triple-A win on May 26, owns a team-high 58 strikeouts and a solid 2.93 ERA. Scott Diamond and Roberto Hernandez have both provided stability to the rotation. The Bisons' pitching staff as a whole is third in the league in ERA, and fourth in innings pitched and fewest hits allowed, as of June 1.

"We've got guys who've been around a bit, like LeBlanc and Diamond," Drew Hutchison said following his strong outing on May 31. Hutchison retired the first 17 hitters in his Tuesday start, earning his first home win at Coca-Cola Field. He also praised the work of catchers A.J. Jimenez and Tony Sanchez, who have helped the staff all season. "Everybody's throwing the ball well. A.J. and Tony have both done a good job behind the plate too."

"All five guys have done their job," Ryan Tepera said of the team's starters this season. "They've pitched deep into games and kept the runs to a minimum. Hutch, to Diamond and LeBlanc, those guys have gone seven innings strong multiple times, and Leroux too."

Each Bisons' starter has big league experience, with a combined 141 wins in the majors. Hernandez made the American League All-Star team in 2010, and Hutchison received the Opening Day start for the Blue Jays in 2015.

Tepera called up again

Bisons' reliever Ryan Tepera was recalled to the Blue Jays on Monday May 31, earning his second big league promotion of the season. His spot with the Herd will be filled by Bobby Korecky, who has been activated off the disabled list.

Tepera pitched nine scoreless innings over his last five appearances with Buffalo before Monday's call-up, earning three saves. Tepera, 28, has pitched in the Toronto organization since being drafted by the Blue Jays in the 19th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He has spent parts of three seasons with the Herd, owning a 11-5 record and a 2.88 ERA over 85 Triple-A games.

After making 32 major league appearances in 2015, Tepera was called up to the Jays on May 9, allowing three earned runs in 2.1 innings over three games. Now in his second chance at the majors this year, Tepera is pleased with his recent success in Buffalo, a fact that may translate to the big league level.

"Since I got optioned down, I've had some more consistent innings and gotten back into a rhythm," Tepera said. "I've been establishing the fastball that I kind of got away from. I was getting a little cutter happy."

The right-hander provided a boost to Toronto's bullpen in 2015, posting a 3.27 ERA over 33.0 innings, and he was even added to the club's postseason roster, appearing in Game Four of the ALCS against Kansas City.

"I fine-tuned by delivery a little bit. I kind of went to what I did good last year that got me on a roll, I went back to those mechanics. Just make things simple, I looked at myself in the mirror and said 'what do I do best?' and I'm sticking with that right now, and it's working."

Vote for the Bisons' triple play as the MiLB Play of the Week

The Bisons recent triple-play is up for MiLB Play of the Week on MiLB.com. The play is up against five other notable moments from across the minors during the week of May 23-29.

While taking on the Mud Hens on Toledo on Saturday, Buffalo turned their first triple play of the season.

The 5-4-3 triple play began when David Adams fielded a John Hicks groundball with runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth. Adams stepped on third for the force out, threw to Andy Burns at second for out number two, when Burns rifled the ball to first baseman Matt Dominguez to end the inning.

Though the Herd lost the game 8-0, the play added a unique element to the Bisons' up-and-down season. The last Buffalo triple play occurred on June 1, 2015, in a game against Indianapolis. Bisons' starter Randy Wolf speared a line drive to the mound, threw to second for a force out, as Ramon Santiago threw to first baseman Daric Barton to complete the play. Before last season, the previous Bisons' triple play happened on September 1, 2009 against Rochester.

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Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Chris Leroux
Buffalo Bisons Pitcher Chris Leroux
   



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