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4/20/12

Lehiigh Valley 8, Buffalo 4

Lehigh Valley scored five run in a crazy eighth inning to hand an 8-4 defeat to the Bisons on Thursday afternoon from Coca-Cola Field. The defeat ends the Herd's first homestand of the season with Buffalo posting a 4-5 record.

The series finale between the two IL North division rivals was a run-of-the-mill 2-2 game until the top of the eighth inning. That's when a force out that wasn't opened the flood-gates to a five-run rally for the IronPigs.

The inning started when Valentino Pascucci bobbled a grounder to first base from Hector Luna. Cody Overbeck followed with a bunt to third base, but Josh Satin had no one to throw to after he fielded it. After a successful sacrifice and an intentional walk to Joe Thurston, the IronPigs were set up with the bases loaded and one out.

Erik Kratz followed with a fly ball that dropped into shallow right. Matt Tuiasosopo came up throwing and sent a missile to home plate where Rob Johnson missed the tag on Luna. However, no tag was needed as the play was a force out. Luna was ruled that he beat the throw and the umpire stood by his call even after Herd manager Wally Backman argued the play.

Lehigh Valley's 3-2 lead quickly grew as Scott Podsednik singled home two runs on the next pitch. The IronPigs increased their lead to 7-2 with an RBI-ground out from Andres Blanco and throwing error from Johnson.

The Bisons scored two in the eighth in a rally that came up short with Tuiasosopo and Satin driving in runs. Buffalo had already came back from 2-0 down with home runs from Valentino Pascucci and Jordany Valdespin.

The loss for Buffalo was charged to Jack Egbert (0-1). He pitched the crazy eighth inning, giving up his first runs of the season.

BISONS NOTES:Bobby Scales reached base twice with singles in the third and fifth innings. He had reached base at least twice in all 12 games he's started...Vinny Rottino and Zach Lutz both did not start for the first time this season. However, both were used as pinch hitters in the contest...Pascucci's home run was his 43rd as a Bison. He is now in sole possession of 9th most in the team's modern era.

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