Bisons Fall to Braves, 5-3

After forcing extra innings, the Herd fell to the Braves, 5-3, in 10 thanks to a walk-off home run from Stefan Gatrell. Buffalo trailed by two late before the two-run blast from the reigning International League Batter of the Week spoiled another Herd comeback.

· Box Score
· Play Log

The loss kept the Herd from earning a sweep of the Braves in the well-pitched series. Buffalo allowed just nine total runs in the four games combined.

Prior to Gartrell's game winner, the Bisons trailed 3-1 in what was scheduled as the game's final frame. After Lucas May as hit with a pitch with one out in the ninth, Omar Quintanilla plated the Buffalo catcher with a double that rolled all the way to the centerfield wall. Pinch hitter Bobby Scales followed with a line drive single into right to score Quintanilla and tie the game.

Buffalo had a pair of runners on in the top half of the 10th inning but Josh Satin and Zach Lutz were left stranded after drawing walks.

Herd closer Fernando Cabrera almost worked his way around a one-out single from Jose Constanza. But after striking out Luis Durango, the righty gave up his first home run of the season to Gartrell.
As has been the common theme from the Bisons pitching staff -and Jeremy Hefner in particular- Thursday's game was another well-pitched affair. Hefner matched a season-high with 7.2 innings of work, his fifth start in six outings of at least seven innings. He allowed just two runs on six hits to keep his season ERA to a league-best 1.77.

Trailing 1-0 early, Buffalo scored their first run of the game sixth inning on Valentino Pascucci's team-best 19th RBI.

The Bisons will now travel to Charlotte for a four-game series with the Knights.

BISONS NOTESJeremy Hefner has made a quality start in five of his six starts this season...Valentino Pascuci's RBI was his first in nine games...Fred Lewis batted in the lead off spot for the first time this season and was 2-5 with a run scored...Matt Tuiasosopo turned 26 on Thursday.