ROCHESTER, NY (Bisons.com) - Runs have been hard to come by at times this season for the Herd. That wasn't the case Friday night.
The Bisons platted eight runs in the first two innings and hung on for an 8-7 win over the Rochester Red Wings Friday night at Frontier Field.
After struggling with the bats in Pawtucket, scoring three runs in two games, the Herd exploded for seven runs in the second inning off Wings' southpaw, Reid Santos, to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
Steven Tolleson's error on Javier Castillo's groundball ignited the offensive outburst for the Bisons. Robinson Cancel followed with a double but after a strikeout and an RBI groundout by Argenis Reyes it looked as if Buffalo's rally would be short-lived.
But that's just when the fun began for the Bisons.
The Herd would put their next seven batters aboard, including three straight RBI hits from Mike Lamb, Chip Ambres and Jason Dubois, and score five runs with two outs in the inning. Cancel wrapped up the offensive barrage with his second hit of the inning, lacing a two-run single up the middle, the only multiple-RBI hit of the inning for the Herd. The veteran catcher has enjoyed some success against the Red Wings this season hitting .455 (10-for-22) with four RBI.
When it was all said and done, the Herd sent 12 batters to the plate, tied a season high with six hits in the inning and scored seven unearned runs, because of the Tolleson error. Friday's second inning rivaled the Herd's eighth inning against Lehigh Valley on August 17 when the Bisons also sent 12 hitters to bat and platted a season-high eight runs to pull away from the I-Pigs.
The Red Wings didn't go down without a fight. Solo home runs from Tolleson and Justin Huber in the fourth cut the lead to five and RBI sac-flies from Tolleson and Trevor Plouffe in the late innings trimmed the Herd lead to 8-5. The Wings made it real interesting in the ninth with back-to-back doubles to lead off the frame. Another sacrifice fly pulled the Wings within a run,but Tim McNab got Danny Valenicia to strike out on 2-2 breaking ball with the tying run on first base to end the ball game and preserve the win.
Bisons' starter Adam Pettyjohn was the lucky recipient of the run support and the lefty held up his end of the bargain. Pettyjohn allowed four runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings to earn his third win of the year for the Herd.
The Bisons and Wings resume their series Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. from Frontier Field.
BISONS NOTES:
OF Jesus Feliciano remains one hit behind the IL hit leader Barbaro Canizares of Gwinnett after each player collected one hit on Friday. Feliciano has 139 hits on the year, 38 more than any other Bisons player (Mike Lamb, 101)... Former Bisons LHP Pat Misch threw seven strong innings, allowing just six hits and one run, for the Mets in New York's, 5-2, loss to the Chicago Cubs this afternoon. Mets manager, Jerry Manuel, said Misch will get another start for the big club.
