ALLENTOWN, PA (Bisons.com) - The IronPigs' lineup featured the Philadelphia Phillies' top prospect Domonic Brown on a rehab assignment, but it was a 24-year old catcher in his first Triple-A game that had the biggest hit of the day.
Joel Naughton's bloop single over a drawn-in infield scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of a 3-2 victory over the Bisons on Tuesday afternoon from Coca-Cola Park.
The loss dropped the Bisons to 4-9 on the road this season. Buffalo was 3-5 on their most-recent roadtrip that ended with Tuesday's loss. The Herd will return downtown on Thursday for the start of an eight-game homestand.
Naughton was promoted from Single-A Clearwater to Lehigh Valley on April 29, but the catcher had yet to appear in a game for the IronPigs. In fact, the seven-year pro had yet to appear above the Single-A level in his career.
With a morning first pitch following the Bisons' 10-inning win on Monday night, Naughton got the start. In the seventh inning, former Bison Josh Barfield led off with a double and advanced to third base when Jose De La Torre struck out Brian Bocock on a wild pitch. That forced the infield to come in and Naughton came through with the game-winning hit into shallow left field.
Jon Malo gave the Bisons an early lead with a sac fly in the second inning, but that was erased with Delwyn Young's two-run homer off starter Pat Misch in the bottom of the frame. Ruben Tejada doubled home a run in the fifth inning to tie the game at two.
BISONS NOTES: Raul Chavez posted a season-high three hits in going 3-4 in the game. ..IronPigs' right fielder Domonic Brown went 1-4 with a double in the game...Buffalo turned three doubleplays in the loss.
