BUFFALO, NY (Bisons.com) - Tobi Stoner came into his start against Lehigh Valley struggling just a bit. Sunday, despite the 90-degree temperatures, Stoner breezed through six scoreless innings as the Herd beat the IronPigs, 3-0, at sun-drenched Coca-Cola Field.
Stoner allowed just four hits and struck out three as he snapped a personal three-game losing streak and picked up his first victory since July 26.
The triple-A rookie, cruised through the first five innings, retiring the side in order three times. In the sixth, two singles and walk loaded the bases with two outs for Lehigh Valley, but Stoner got Terry Tiffee to hit a weak grounder to first basemen Mike Lamb to retire the side and escape trouble.
Jon Switzer and Adam Bostick combined to complete the shutout. Switzer went two innings allowing just one hit and Bostick worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his third save of the season.
The offense wasn't as effective as it has been of late for the Herd, fortunately they didn't need to be.
Nick Evans provided the only real offensive pop hitting his team-leading ninth home run in the fourth inning; a solo blast that cleared the netting in left field and gave the Herd the 2-0 lead.
In the month of August, the Bisons are hitting .305 as a team, seven points better than any other team in the International League and have averaged 5.5 runs/game.
Argenis Reyes put the Bisons on the board in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Andy Green from third.
The Bisons and I-Pigs wrap up the four-game set Monday night at Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.) RHP Kyle Snyder will get the start for the Herd against LHP Gustavo Chacin.
