Late offensive surge not enough for Bisons, drop final game of series 8-4
In the top of the seventh inning, Matt Hague and Daric Barton each took a ball deep in their respective at-bats, marking the first time this season two home runs were hit in the same inning. By that time in the game, however, the Louisville Bats were in total control.
Louisville defeated the Bisons 8-4 on Sunday at Louisville Slugger Field in the final matchup of the four-game series. Buffalo accumulated just four runs after exploding for 11 runs and 17 hits the night before. The victory gave Louisville the season series over the Herd (4-3), the first time since 2009 they got the better of Buffalo.
For the second straight game, Buffalo's starting pitcher failed to make it past four innings. Andrew Albers had a rough day, going only three innings and giving up six earned runs off five hits.
Louisville began the day with three early runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Eugenio Suarez. Yorman Rodriguez then singled home the third run of the inning.
The Bats then put up three runs in the bottom of the third frame on a single, a sacrifice fly and a balk by Albers. Rodriguez and Suarez went back to work in the fourth inning, each driving in a run to make it an eight-run game. The Louisville duo combined for six hits and six RBI.
The Bisons scored a total of 10 runs in Albers' previous seven losses this season. Sunday was no exception.
Buffalo's four runs came well after Albers had exited the ballgame. Two of the tallies came via the long ball as Hague and Barton both went deep in the top of the seventh inning. Hague, Barton and Caleb Gindl all recorded two or more hits. Hague also raised his league-leading batting average to .347.
Brad Glenn tacked on a run in the eighth inning on an RBI single in his lone hit in the game. Buffalo began a small rally in the top of the ninth inning, which was started by Jonathan Diaz's walk with one out to go in the frame. Andy Burns drove home Diaz later in the inning, but a Hague struck out ended the comeback attempt for the Herd.
Buffalo put up all of its runs in the seventh inning or later, stymied by Louisville's Dylan Axelrod for the majority of his impressive start. Axelrod went 6.2 innings and only allowed two earned runs - both coming from home runs - in his third win of the season.
Buffalo returns home on Monday for a seven-game home stand, beginning with a three-game series against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Monday's game is set for 7:05 p.m.