Bisons defeat Red Wings in season opener

By: Ryan Oleksyn

Bisons outfielders Steward Berroa (left), Jonatan Clase (middle) and Joey Loperfido (right) hug after the Bisons won on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Buffalo Bisons Baseball)

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Bisons defeated the Rochester Red Wings 6-2 highlighted by a four-run sixth inning rally that propelled the Bisons to an Opening Day victory.

Buffalo manager Casey Candaele is entering his fifth straight season with the team to make him the longest tenured Bisons skipper in the modern era.

"Our pitchers did a phenomenal job of going after their hitters," Candaele said. "(Eric) Lauer did a good job of putting together the first three innings. His first outing was great, and he could have gone longer. He wanted to."

Lauer finished the day giving up two hits, two runs that were both earned and two walks while striking out four batters in four innings pitched.

Although the Red Wings fell, they made things tough defensively for the Bisons. Rochester gave up six hits and their pitchers recorded 10 combined punch outs, six of which came from starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez. He gave up two hits, one run and two walks in five innings pitched.

Lauer winds up to throw a pitch on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Buffalo Bisons Baseball)

"I thought Alvarez did a really nice job of keeping us in the ball game," Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said. "He left with the lead, he gave us five good innings...I thought our defense played really well...I think we'll be okay."

Right fielder Joey Loperfido cracked his first homer of the season in the eighth inning to kickstart his 2025 campaign as he played his first game ever as a Bison. He went two-for-four at the plate to be the only player in the contest with a multi-hit game.

"When playing with a new group of guys, especially on opening day, it always feels good to win and take a couple of good swings," Loperfido said.

Second baseman Michael Stefanic came up big in the win in his own right by clutching up in the sixth inning with a two-run double.

"I was just looking for somthing elivated," Stefanic said. "It ended up hitting an elevated changeup, put a good swing on it, found some grass and we scored a couple runs."

Rochester couldn't find similar success on offense as the team recorded five hits and left four runners on base that were in scoring position. Also, the Red Wings' batters were struck out 11 times.

Clase sprints to first base after making contact with the ball on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Buffalo Bisons Baseball)

"Just got to stick to our plan," Rochester third baseman Brady House said. "We all individually have a plan. We also have a team plan going into the game. Individually, just stick to the plan. Even if one or two at bats get shaky in a way, whatever that might be, just stick to that plan before the game started."

The Bisons drew first blood thanks to a passed ball in the second inning by Rochester starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez, moving Loperfido over to third base. He got on base after singling to record Buffalo's first hit of the game. Bisons catcher Ali Sanchez grounded out to third base to send Loperfido home, earning him his first RBI of the season and giving the Bisons a 1-0 lead.

Later on in the fourth inning, the Red Wings scored their first two runs of the season thanks to a double from first baseman Juan Yepez. He helped himself and House get in scoring position. House, who is the fourth ranked Washington Nationals prospect on milb.com, got on base after being walked by Lauer. Designated hitter Franchy Cordero drove in Yepez on a ground out to tie the game and left fielder Stone Garrett allowed House to score on a single.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Bisons were threatening by loading the bases with two outs. Alvarez was able to escape the jam by striking out Bisons designated hitter Riley Tirotta on a full count.

"It definitely builds confidence, continuing to trust the pitches and work with Milly (Drew Millas)," Alvarez. "It obviously allowed me to go through another inning...definitely a big, big out right there."

Sanchez (#3) gives Loperfido (left) a tap on the head after recording the first run of the game on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Buffalo Bisons Baseball)

The Bisons would get another chance later in the sixth inning and cash in after being down 2-1. Stefanic recorded his two-run double to give Buffalo a 3-2 advantage.

The scoring would continue as Tirotta struck a double of his own down the left field line, scoring Stefanic and extending Buffalo's lead to 4-2. Buffalo would score one more in the inning via a sac-fly from first baseman Rainer Nunez to drive in Sanchez, who singled to get on base.

After Loperfido's dinger in the eighth inning, reliever Braydon Fisher would come in to close for Buffalo in the ninth. He would send the Red Wings down in order and secure the win for the Bisons.

Rochester reliever Konnor Prilkington received the loss in today's game, giving up two hits, four earned runs in and recording only one strikeout in 0.1 innings pitched. Buffalo reliever Andrew Bash received the win today after allowing a hit and a walk while throwing one strikeout in two innings.

Buffalo hosts Rochester once again tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. as the Red Wings look to bounce back after dropping the first game of the season. Andry Lara (0.00, 0-0) will start tomorrow on the mount for Rochester and Trenton Wallace (0.00, 0-0) will go for the Bisons.