BUFFALO, NY (Bisons.com) - Buffalo dropped the series opener against Lehigh Valley, losing 12-6, Friday night from Coca-Cola Field.
The Iron Pigs were able to get on the board early, plating four runs in the first inning. Mike Cervenak, Michael Taylor, David Newhan and Andy Tracy recorded RBI for Lehigh Valley.
The Bisons countered by putting a run on the board in the bottom half of the first when Nick Evans hit a sacrifice fly plating Argenis Reyes, bringing Buffalo within three.
After the Iron Pigs tallied again in the top of the third, Buffalo responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the frame. Andy Green hit an RBI double, and Chip Ambres drove in his team-leading 44th run, closing the gap to 5-3.
The teams would trade runs again in the fourth. Argenis Reyes blasted his third home run of the season over the right-center field fence, bringing the Herd back within two.
Every time the Bisons looked poised to make a comeback, the Iron Pigs responded. John Mayberry hit a two-run home run to deep left field in the fifth inning, putting Lehigh Valley up 8-4.
With two swings of the bat, the Iron Pigs put the game out of reach. Lehigh Valley hit back-to-back home runs, including a three-run blast from Andy Tracy and a solo-shot off the bat of Michael Taylor in the sixth inning, making it 12-5. With four more runs driven in on Friday night's contest, Tracy is now only one RBI shy of Shelly Duncan's IL-leading 77 RBI.
Bisons starting pitcher Lance Broadway couldn't secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The righty went five innings giving up eight runs, seven earned runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out four in the loss. Broadway was victorious in his last outing against Columbus on August 9th, despite giving up six runs over 6.2 innings of work. The former 15th overall draft pick has now surrendered 22 earned runs in his first three starts in August after posting a 2.67 ERA in the month of July.
Iron Pigs starter Rodrigo Lopez made his first appearance for Lehigh Valley since June 28th after spending over a month with the Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran tossed five innings giving up five runs, four earned runs on 11 hits and striking out three. On May 25th, the righty lasted just 3.1 innings, his shortest start of the season, giving up five runs on nine hits in a no-decision at Coca-Cola Field. The 2002 A.L. runner-up rookie of the year has posted a 11.11 ERA in two starts at Coca-Cola Field this season.
Jim Ed Warden made another stellar relief appearance for the Herd, tossing two hitless, shutout innings while striking out five and walking one. The righty has now allowed just one run over seven innings of work form the bullpen since being promoted from Double-A Binghamton on August 3rd.
Argenis Reyes singled on the first pitch he saw to leadoff the bottom of the first, extending to his hit streak to 13 games. Since the streak started August 1st, the veteran is averaging .390, including seven RBI. The Bisons longest hit streak of the season came compliments of Javier Castillo, who hit in 16 straight from June 26th-July 12th.
With two more hits on Friday, Andy Green is putting together an impressive hitting streak of his own. The third basemen has now hit safely in seven straight, and is batting an impressive .429 over that stretch, including two runs scored and six RBI.
With Friday's loss, Buffalo drops its record against Lehigh Valley to 2-6 in 2009. The two teams will face off again Saturday night from Coca-Cola Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
