Bisons unable to overcome early deficit in 6-2 loss at Rochester

ROCHESTER, NY - Early offense for the Rochester Red Wings was enough to defeat the Buffalo Bisons 6-2 on Thursday evening at Innovative Field. The win was Rochester’s second in the first three games of the series.

The Bisons answered Rochester’s two runs in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of their own in the top of the second inning. Buffalo would score without the benefit of a base hit in the inning. A ground ball to first off the bat of Spencer Horwitz was misplayed by Juan Yepez, scoring Leo Jimenez to trim the deficit to 2-1. An RBI groundout by Nathan Lukes tied the score 2-2, plating Steward Berroa from third.

However, Rochester scored promptly in the bottom of the second to re-take the lead through two innings, 3-2. Despite the infield playing in with a runner at third base, Darren Baker was credited with an RBI groundout that scored Erick Mejia.

The Red Wings would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 6-2 lead through four. At one point, four straight Rochester batters reached base including Brady Lindsly. His two-run double scored two of the three in the inning. He scored one batter later on a Darren Baker RBI double.

The Bisons bullpen held Rochester scoreless over the final 4.2 innings to give the offense a chance. However, they were unable to solve the Red Wings bullpen, falling by four runs. Paxton Schultz recorded six strikeouts in his 2.2 innings of relief behind the start of Aaron Sanchez.

Brian Serven finished the night with two hits, adding his eighth multi-hit game of the season with the Bisons. The two teams are scheduled for a 6:45 p.m. first pitch at Innovative Field on Friday night. Andrew Bash is slated to start for Buffalo.