Press Release: - Syracuse 5, Buffalo 4

The Bisons struggles continued on Thursday night to start off a crucial five-game road trip. The Herd lost 5-4 in a wild season high 14 innings at Alliance Bank Stadium and have now lost 5 of their last 7 games.



The Chiefs jumped on top 2-0 in the second inning, when the Chiefs starting pitcher Erik Arnesen helped out his own cause by driving in a run with a sacrifice fly and Boomer Whiting drove in a run on a fielder's choice.
The Bisons struggled offensively over the first three frames, able to get just two hits, but the bats broke open in the fourth. Russ Adams got the rally started with a one out solo home run, his 14th of the year. Five of the next six batters came through with singles, including a two-run base hit by Luis Hernandez to give the Herd a 3-2 lead.



The Bison killer Chase Lambin then assisted the Chiefs in retaking the lead in the sixth inning on a two-run homer, his fourth long ball against the Bisons this season, to put Syracuse up 4-3.



However, as always the Bisons would not go down quietly. After a leadoff single by Andy Green in the seventh, Buffalo tied the game at four on an RBI base knock from Mike Cervenak. The Bisons third baseman extended his hitting streak to seven games going 3x4 with a run scored and that RBI.



The Bisons loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but Mike Nickeas flew out to shallow center field and pinch hitter J.R. House grounded out to end the threat.


After Syracuse was unable to walk-off with the victory in the bottom of the ninth, the Bisons went into extra innings for the second straight night.



Things got dicey in the bottom of the 12th inning. With men on second and third base and only one out in the inning, Brian Bixler lined a ball out to center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. On the catch, Pete Orr tagged up from third base, but was gunned down at the plate by Nieuwenhuis to end the inning and continue the game.



Seth Bynum led off the 13th frame with a double down the left field line. He got down to third base with one out in the inning, but a strikeout of the pitcher Joe Bisenius and Carlos Maldonado flew out to center field to send the contest to the 14th.



For the third straight inning, the Chiefs got the winning run on third base in the 14th, as it was Pete Orr. This time however Syracuse was able to walk off with the win, when Brian Bixler lined a ball into left field and Orr came in to score the winning run.



The 14 innings and 4:22 time of game were both season longs for the Bisons in 2010