The Bisons started playing baseball today in an unfamiliar position....already trailing six runs. Returning to Fifth Third Field today, the Bisons faced a 6-0 deficit going into the top of the fifth inning to finish their first game of a four-game series with the Toledo Mud Hens. The game was postponed last night due to torrential rains.
The Herd jumped right on the Mud Hens to start the first half of the double header when Jorge Padilla doubled to restart the game. Padilla would score on the following at-bat when Mud Hens shortstop Brent Dlugach committed his twentieth error of the year off of the bat of Mike Cervenak.
The Mud Hens did not take long to answer however as they touched up Bisons pitcher Dylan Owen for six runs in the sixth inning.
Owen, who relieved the previous day's starter Dillon Gee, got roughed up in today's outing. Owen saw the most damage in the sixth when the Mud Hens batted around the order and put a six spot on the board. The Mud Hens topped off the inning when Ryan Strieby hit a three-run home run with two outs to put Toledo in front 12-1.
Gee was credited with the loss and has his record stand at 9-6. His attempt at becoming the first pitcher since Jeremy Guthrie to reach double-digit wins will have to wait until his next start. The Herd have been searching for a ten-game winner since Guthrie's 2005 campaign when he posted a 12-10 record. The Bisons made an attempt at a comeback but it was too little too late. Following the Herd putting one run on the board in the eighth they scored four runs in the top of the ninth. Those four runs both came way of two-run doubles from Jesus Feliciano and Justin Turner.
Turner, who went 4-5 in game one had his first four hit performance of the season and added two RBI to bring his season total to 26. Since his return to the Herd Turner has been 5-9 (.555) in his two games back from the stint with the Mets. Buffalo would ultimately lose game one 12-6 and have their record drop to 51-48. For the Mud Hens their victory snapped their record nine-game losing streak at their home ballpark of Fifth Third Field.
The second half of the double dip saw much of the same story as game one...early Mud Hens lead...Bisons comeback...Mud Hens win. In game two, which was scheduled to be a seven inning contest, the Mud Hens continued to pounce on the Herd's pitching staff. Starter Tobi Stoner (5-8) was touched up for five runs in the first three innings. Once again the Bisons attempted to crawl back but could not overcome the early damage caused by Toledo.
In the sixth inning Lucas Duda hit an absolute bomb that looked like it belonged in a home run derby. Duda cleared the buildings in the back drop of right field and threatened any pedestrians on nearby Monroe Street. Duda's long home run garnered a cheer from the Toledo fans in Fifth Third Stadium when he crossed home plate. His eleventh home run of the season trimmed the lead to 5-3 in favor of Toledo.
Fernando Martinez then hit his tenth home run close to where Duda launched his moon shot and pulled Buffalo to within one run. The shortened game unfortunately hurt the Bisons as they could not score another run and dropped the second game 5-4.
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