IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Timely Hits Carry Bisons over Knights, 5-4

Published on June 13, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


The Bisons made up for their lack of offense with excellent timeliness on Saturday night.

Buffalo only picked up seven hits on the night, but none bigger than Caleb Gindl's three-run blast to right field to take a one-run lead in the seventh inning.

The Herd picked up their third consecutive victory, 5-4, on Saturday night against the Charlotte Knights at Coca-Cola Field. Buffalo put up two runs in the bottom of the first, then didn't score again until the seventh, but it was enough to hold down the win in front of an electric crowd of 11,872.

"It came at an opportune time, obviously," said manager Gary Allenson. "We weren't doing much. Had a couple runs there because of a double down the first base line in the first inning. Other than that, we didn't do anything until Gindl's hit."

The Herd was trailing by two runs entering the seventh inning, but Gindl capitalized on back-to-back walks surrendered by Charlotte, as he took his first home run of the season deep to right field for a one-run lead. Gindl finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBI.

"I thought he was going to throw the fast ball up, and I was telling myself to stay on top, and it happened to be middle-in," Gindl said. "I just reacted to it."

The home run, however, was the shining moment in an otherwise stagnant night for the Bisons, including the pitching performance of Daniel Norris.

Norris struggled with his control all night and committed a costly error. In the top of the fourth inning, Norris overthrew first base while attempting to field a bunt near the pitcher's mound. The ball sailed over Daric Barton's head and through the Bisons' bullpen. By the time Gindl threw the ball in from right field, Leury Garcia and Micah Johnson scored to give Charlotte a 4-2 lead.

"Norris was not on his "A" game today, obviously," Allenson said. "Struggled with [his] command. Too many pitches there."

Norris finished his day after four innings of work. He gave up four runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks and struck out six in his fifth consecutive loss.

The Herd's bullpen picked up the slack.

Buffalo's relievers combined for five shutout innings while only allowing three hits. Between the fifth and ninth innings, the bullpen recorded 12 straight outs, four coming from strikeouts. Chad Jenkins shined in extended relief, working for three innings while surrendering only two hits. He picked up his fourth win in the process.

Todd Redmond retired six of the seven batters he faced to earn the save.

"That's what relievers are supposed to do," Allenson said. "When you come into a game and you're behind, your job is to keep it right there and give the offense a chance to come back and all it took was one swing of the bat."

Charlotte produced four runs on nine hits, and recorded all but one hit past the fifth inning. Jason Coats drove in the first run of the game on a groundout that scored Micah Johnson, but Buffalo's timeliness began early in the game.

Barton erased a one-run deficit with a two-run double down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning. Matt Hague and Luke Scott both scored after drawing consecutive walks with two outs in the frame.

Steve Tolleson of the Toronto Blue Jays started at second base on a rehab assignment for a groin injury sustained on May 31. He went 0-for-3 with a walk.

Matt Hague continued his torrid start to the season, going 2-for-2 with two walks. He increased his league-leading average to .352 and recorded his team-leading 25th multi-hit game of the season. He also added two stolen bases.

The Bisons will look to complete the four-game sweep of the Knights on Sunday when they take on Charlotte at 1:05 p.m.

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International League Stories from June 13, 2015


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