By: Brayden Peters
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Bisons split their doubleheader with the Rochester Red Wings in Joey Votto's first home appearance. Buffalo lost the first game 10-5 while winning 5-1 in the second game. Buffalo was active on offense, recording 13 hits in the first game along two home runs from Jonatan Clase and Max McDowell. However, they struggled to bring base runners home as they had runners in scoring position eight times.
"We didn't show up in the first one," Bisons manager Casey Candaele said. "That was probably one of the worst games we played. We didn't do anything. We weren't ready to play."
"You need to drive guys home when they're on base," Candaele said.
The Bisons' offensive success carried over into the second game, recording seven hits. Two of them were home runs from Josh Kasevich and Damiano Palmegiani. Kasevich was called up on Tuesday from Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
"He (Kasevich) has been having a good year down in Double-A," Candaele said. "So, hopefully, that transfers here, but he's a solid player. He works hard, and, you know, great teammate and a good guy to have on the team."
Rochester went to work in the first game, recording a total of 12 hits and two home runs that were credited to Andrés Chaparro and Joey Gallo, who was sent down from the Washington Nationals on a rehab assignment. They couldn't translate much of that offensive prowess into the second game, only recording eight hits including home runs from José Tena and Andrés Chaparro.
Clase, who the Toronto Blue Jays acquired in the Yimi García trade with the Seattle Mariners, had a solid showing for the Bisons in the first game and led their offense. He went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring twice while adding three hits that included a home run, two RBI, a walk and a strikeout swinging to his name.
"He's young and very talented," Candaele said. "He's got a lot of things that he can contribute to a team. So, he's got power, he can run, he can hit for average and he plays good defense. So, you know, those are pretty good things to have."
McDowell had a good showing in the batter's box going 2-for-2, recording two hits that included a homer, two RBI and a base on balls. Palmegiani led the way in the second game, going 2-for-3 with two hits and two RBI.
Both Tena and Dylan Crews were solid in the first game for Rochester. Tena went 3-for-5, recording two runs, three hits, two of which were doubles, and an RBI. As for Crews, he went 3-for-4, scoring once and recording three hits. Tena and Crews combined for six of Rochester's 12 hits in the first game of the doubleheader. In the second game, Tena had another solid performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate, recording a run, a hit and a base on balls.
Former Red Wing Paolo Espino started in the first game on the mound for Buffalo. He finished his day surrendering eight hits and three earned runs while recording four strikeouts in four innings pitched.
"Espino threw well but, you know, only gave up three runs," Candaele said. "He did a good job to keep us in the game."
The bullpen struggled for Buffalo, giving up four hits, seven runs earned, six walks and three strikeouts. In the second game, James Kaprielian was given the start for the Bisons and was credited with his first win with Buffalo. In five innings pitched, which ties for the most innings he has pitched in this season, he threw two strikeouts while giving up four hits, an earned run and four walks. The bullpen gave up four hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out five batters.
As for Rochester, Jackson Rutledge was the starting pitcher for Rochester in the first game. He gave up six hits, three earned runs, and five walks while striking out four batters in three innings. The Red Wings bullpen kept Buffalo in check, only allowing just seven hits and two earned runs while striking out seven batters. Spenser Watkins started in the second game for the Red Wings. He threw four strikeouts while giving up five hits, three earned runs and a walk in four innings pitched. The bullpen threw three strikeouts while giving up two hits, two earned runs and a walk.
The Bisons struck first early in the first game of the doubleheader. In the first inning with the bases juiced, Alan Roden batted in Clase, who got on base after getting walked by Rutledge.
Roden's single increases his hitting streak to 10 games, which is his longest streak this season. He finished the first game going 2-for-2 while recording an RBI and a base on balls.
Even after the run, the bases were still loaded, but the Bisons failed to drive in any of the base runners to add insurance to their lead. Buffalo was in scoring position eight times during the first game.
The Red Wings knotted the game up at 1-1 in the third inning. Tena doubled to allow Dylan Crews to score after he tripled. Rochester proceeded to snatch the lead from Buffalo, as Gallo hit a two-run homer to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead. He finished his day 2-for-2 in the batter's box, recording three runs, two hits, two RBI and two walks.
Buffalo responded in the fourth inning and tied the game up. Clase hit a two-run dinger to make it a 3-3 game and it was his first home run in a Bisons uniform.
Rochester snapped the tie with a two-run homer in the fifth inning by Chaparro. It marks as his 20th home run of the season and his first as a Red Wing.
The Red Wings added onto their lead as a wild pitch from Adrian Hernandez allowed Gallo to score to give Rochester a 6-3 advantage. Gallo got on base after getting walked by Ryan Boyer. Jack Dunn proceeded to hit a sac-fly to allow Joey Menseses, who was walked, to score.
The scoring continued for the Red Wings in the fifth inning. Hernandez threw another wild pitch that allowed both Brady House and Darren Baker to score, increasing the Rochester lead to 9-3.
Buffalo continued to struggle to stop Rochester's offense from scoring. With the bases loaded, Dunn got Gallo home thanks to a fielding error on third baseman Gabriel Cancel.
Rochester's unanswered scoring streak ended in the seventh inning. McDowell got a two-run homer to cut the Red Wings' lead to 10-5. The Bisons failed to rally back, allowing the Red Wings to secure the win.
Tena came in hot to start things off for Rochester in the second game of the doubleheader. He homered out towards right field to give the Red Wings an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, marking his first dinger as a Red Wing.
The Bisons stole the lead from the Red Wings in the fourth inning, as Kasevich hit a three-run dinger out towards left field. It was his first home run and hit of his Triple-A career.
"Yeah, he (Watkins) beat me on that inside fastball on my first at bat," Kasevich said. "So I was ready for it at my second at bat, got it again and I swung it out."
Buffalo added some insurance to their lead in the sixth inning. Palmegiani hit a two-run dinger to increase the Bisons' lead to 5-1.
Rochester tried to mount a comeback in the seventh inning. Chaparro hit a two-run homer to cut the Bisons' lead to two runs. However, a strikeout from Mason Fluharty put the game away.
The Bisons are now 52-57 on the season are are 15-20 in the second half. They are also in fifth in the IL East. As for the Red Wings, they are now 58-50 overall and are 20-15 in the second half. They are in third in the IL East.
Buffalo will try to extend their winning streak when they host the Red Wings on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Trenton Wallace (0-0, 7.36) will get the start on the mound for the Bisons while Thaddeus Ward (6-3, 5.61) will start for Rochester.
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