8th-inning explosion propels Herd

· Box Score
· Play Log

The Bisons did not make anything easy on themselves. Down 7-4 going into the bottom of the 9th, the Knights generated some offense to get themselves back in the game. Jim Gallagher singled to start things off, and Ray Olmedo walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

 

Cabrera rebounded to strike out two, but then Drew Garcia stepped to the plate with the challenge of keeping the game alive. Garcia came through, ripping a 2-run double that cut the Bisons lead to a run. Herd manager Wally Backman decided to replace Cabrera with Edgin at this point, and the decision proved effective for Buffalo.

The Bisons gave themselves breathing room in the 9th with an offensive explosion in the 8th. Down 4-2 going into the 8th, the Herd needed to produce some fireworks to end the losing streak.

The team came through, to say the least, with a 5-run explosion that saw nine Bisons batters step to the plate.

Lucas May opened the inning with a single, and Fred Lewis reached with one out on a throwing error that sent May to second. Vinny Rottino then stepped up with a RBI double that scored May, at which point the Knights made a pitching change with a 4-3 lead.

The change proved ineffective, as the Herd scored four more runs in the inning. After Valentino Pascucci struck out, Matt Tuiasosopo came through with a single that scored Lewis and Rottino. This gave the Bisons a 5-4 lead, but the Herd was not done. Josh Satin and Dustin Martin produced consecutive RBI doubles, and the Bisons took the 7-4 lead.

The Bisons took an early 2-0 lead in a four-hit 2nd inning, but the Knights would battle back with runs in the 2nd and 5th that tied the game. Charlotte took its first lead of the game with two runs in the 6th, but the Herd's 8th-inning explosion was ultimately enough to counter the Knights attack.

The Bisons and Knights conclude their 4-game set Monday night. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.

Bisons Notes: Matt Harvey got the start for the Herd and earned a no-decision, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs in 6 innings of work...Elvin Ramirez relieved Harvey to pitch two sound innings, allowing 1 hit and no runs. Ramirez earned the win, improving to 2-0 on the year...Four Bisons had multi-hit games Sunday (Matt Tuiasosopo, Josh Satin, Dustin Martin, and Lucas May)...The Bisons return home Tuesday to start a 16-game homestand.

from team press release