By: Brayden Peters
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The price was right for the Buffalo Bisons, as they beat the Worcester Red Sox 8-3 Friday on Game Show Night. Buffalo's offense exploded in the eighth inning, recording six runs and three hits to distance themselves from the Red Sox. It was a good way to respond to Wednesday's 14-1 loss to Worcester.
"It was a good vibe all day," Bisons bench coach Donnie Murphy said. "I think the guys understood, you know, it was one of those days yesterday that just, you know, it happened and you just got to turn the page...they were ready to work today and they had a different mindset. It was positive all day and the work was great and I think that kind of leaked into our game..."
Murphy is filling in the manager spot for Buffalo as current manager Casey Candaele is on vacation.
Buffalo had great discipline in the batter's box. Although they got six hits in the game, the Bisons were walked nine times in the game.
The offense wasn't the only part of the Bisons team that propelled them to victory. Buffalo's pitching and defense stepped up from yesterday's performance.
Nick Fraze got the start on the mound for Buffalo and held off Worcester's batters. He ended the day surrendering three hits and a walk while striking out three batters in 4.1 innings. Fraze made things difficult for the Red Sox offense as he brings something to his game that not many of the other Bisons pitchers bring.
"I think the matchup for me today...was a really good matchup...because just with my sinker," Fraze said. "And the guys we've thrown earlier this week I don't think have sinkers...I think me having the sinker was big and that kind of helped me get through all those righties."
Fraze wasn't the only pitcher who had a day in the mound for Buffalo. Paxton Schultz, who relieved Hayden Juenger in the sixth inning, surrendered only a hit while throwing six strike outs in 2.2 innings.
"I think we kind of nibbled a little too much yesterday at times and they knew that if we go after these guys, let our defense play behind us," Murphy said. "You know, create weak contact, you know, and you get out early in the count and they'll make them work for it."
Buffalo's fielders backed up their pitchers. Twice during the game, Buffalo got a batter out after trying to get an extra base off of a hit. Sogard was tagged out at second base after hitting a single. Also, Lugo was gunned down at third base after hitting a double in the seventh.
The Bisons struck first with Brian Serven singling to get Orelvis Martinez home, giving Buffalo a 1-0 lead. Martinez managed to get on base after a Nick Sogard error, he tried to gun down Martinez at first base.
However, Worcester responded. Chase Meidroth homered out toward left field to tie the game up at one apiece. It was the first home run from either team in the series.
Buffalo broke the tie thanks to Will Robertson crossing home plate on a Romy Gonzalez error. Gonzalez failed to receive a throw from Sogard as he tried to gun down Steward Berroa on his way to first base. Roberston got on base after being walked.
After the Bisons' second run of the game, Steward Berroa stole second base. It marked his 200th stolen base of his career.
The Bisons unleashed their anger from yesterday on offense in the eighth inning. It all started with Riley Tirotta batting in Damiano Palmegiani to increase Buffalo's lead up to 3-1. Palmegiani got on base thanks to being walked by Sal Romano.
Robertson then singled to send Tirotta home to extend the Bisons lead. Robertson went 2-for-3 on the day with two runs and was walked once.
"Luckily for us, we came back from yesterday and put a good showing for us," Roberston said. "It took a little bit of time to get the bats going, but we found a way."
With the bases loaded with Robertson, Brian Serven and Rafael Lantigua on base, in which both Serven and Lantigua were walked, Berroa got walked to allow Serven to score. Berroa getting walked was the last straw for Red Sox manager Chad Tracy, as he brought in pitcher A.J. Politi to replace Romano.
Politi wasn't able to get Worcester out of the eighth inning without giving up a run. Michael Turconi doubled to send Lantigua, Robertson and Berroa home, increasing Buffalo's lead to 8-1. Eventually, Palmegiani flew out to Mark Contreras to get the Red Sox into the ninth inning, but the damage was already done.
The Red Sox responded to the Bisons' offensive success with some of their own. Nathan Hickey doubled to send Nick Yorke home to cut the deficit to six runs. Yorke got on base thanks to a double of his own.
Matthew Lugo proceeded to get a single to allow Yorke to score to cut the Bisons' lead to five runs. However, Buffalo escaped the ninth after a clutch double play to seal their 8-3 victory.
The Bisons' win increases their record to 35-32 and they remain in fourth in the IL East. As for the Red Sox, the loss drops them to a 30-37 record and they remain in eighth in the IL East.
Buffalo will look to win the series when they host Worcester tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. It will be Native American Heritage Night at Sahlen Field and there will be a pom pom giveaway as well.
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