Bison Games Story April Archives

Herd clips Wings 3-1

By Dave Ricci

April 30, 2003

(Rochester, NY) I’ve often heard professional baseball players say they don’t pay attention to things like hitting streaks. I guess it’s true. After Buffalo’s 3-1 win over the Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field Tuesday night I told Bison’s (15-6) infielder Greg LaRocca that his seventh inning game-winning-two RBI double extended his hitting streak to 14 games the native of Oswego, NY just responded with a wide-eyed "Is it 14? Wow."

"Roc" broke up a 1-1 score in the top of the seventh when he drilled a Michael Nakamura slider into right-center bringing home Coco Crisp and Zach Sorensen.

"I kind of got a good piece…a little bit of luck is good in this game." Said LaRocca. "A hitting streak is a lot of luck. I hit the ball on the button a couple times and lined right at people, if it keeps going great but that’s not the game. The game (is about) coming up big when the game is on the line."

Bison’s manager Marty Brown said, "He competes each and every pitch. It’s not about an at-bat it’s not about hits. It’s about that competition and making sure that he competes and battles’ each and every pitch. That’s the way Greg approaches each and every at-bat. A lot of our guys can learn from watching the way he goes about doing his job."

While LaRocca’s bat has been the star of the show over the last two weeks Tuesday night his glove played a strong co-staring role. He was the first leg in a 5-2-3 double play that halted bases’ load Rochester (11-12) scoring threat in the fifth.

"The field was a little rough the grass was really slow. It was kind of a weird play because I said (to myself) ‘if the ball is hit slow I’m going to go home’ and it was kind of in between. I surprised (Bison’s catcher) Victor (Martinez) who though ‘oh it’s a double-play ball’. Then the ball (my throw) came at him he made a good play and threw him out at first."

"Roc" picked up the slow rolling squib off the bat of Red Wings Luis Rodriguez and threw home. Victor Martinez tagged out Jeff Deardorff then completed the twin killing when he threw out Rodriguez at first.

Rodriguez hit into a double play again in the seventh.

Jason Stanford improved to 2-0 giving up one run on six hits over six innings. Stanford also had six strikeouts, one walk, a balk and a hit batsman.

Alex Escobar opened the scoring in the top of second with his third home run of the year. Lew Ford went 2-for-3 with one RBI and a walk for the Red Wings.

Dave Elder worked the ninth and picked up his sixth save of the season. He issued one walk and racked up three K’s.

Ninth inning rally falls short

Scranton tops Bison’s 5-4

By Dave Ricci

April 27, 2003

Don’t be surprised if the Bison’s wake up in the middle of the night screaming the name "Josh Hancock"!

The 25-year old righty won his second straight game over the Bison’s as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre edged Buffalo 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Dunn Tire Park.

Hancock, who picked up a 4-0 win over the Herd in Scranton on April 22, used a mix of split fingers, fast balls and a nasty breaking ball that handcuffed the Bison’s for six innings.

"That’s two outings he’s had against us where he’s just mixed it up. I don’t think today he had as good stuff as he had the other day (April 22)." Said Bison’s manager Marty Brown. "He pitches ahead in the count and gets some quality pitches out there so give him credit he did a good job out there."

Hancock (3-2) fanned eight batters while surrendering one walk and three hits before turning the game over to Red Baron’s reliever Jeremy Wedel.

Bison starter Dave Burba continues to wear the tag of "hard luck pitcher". Burba worked a respectable five innings and gave up just one run on four hits. But like his other starts Burba’s teammates did not provide offensive punch and he left the game with the Herd trailing 1-0.

Scranton’s run off Burba came in the third when center fielder McKay Christensen scored on a 6-3 grounder off the bat of former Bison Dave Hollins.

A solo home run from Travis Chapman in the sixth and an RBI double in the seventh from Hollins put the Red Baron’s in front 3-0.

Ben Broussard’s solo shot in the seventh finally got Buffalo on the board, but hopes of a rally were dimmed after Wendell MaGee’s two RBI single put Scranton up 5-1.

As most of the announced 7,646 fans began to file out of the Park the Bison’s mounted a come back.

The Bison’s first four batters reached base with three of them eventually scoring to narrow the gap to 5-4.

But with two on and two Scott Pratt lined out to Scranton shortstop Juan Sosa to end the rally and the game. "These guys, including myself, we all have heart…We never give up, (we) go out there we put up a couple blanks but we’re still going out there trying. It’s not like we were going out there and not trying at all." Said Bison outfielder Coco Crisp.

Greg Kubes picked up his first save for Scranton while Sosa went 4-for-5 and scored twice. Ben Broussard went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.

Herd edges Red Barons: 2-1

By Dave Ricci

April 26, 2003

Nate Grindell only had one hit Saturday night, but he made it count as he drove in what turned out to be the game-winning RBI. The Bison’s third baseman ripped a double that scored Ben Broussard in the bottom of the second as the Herd edged Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2-1 and improved to 14-5 in front of an announced crowd of 5, 789 at Dunn Tire Park.

Broussard led off the inning with a single then advanced to second with his first stolen base of the year. After Alex Escobar struck out, Luis Garcia moved Broussard to third base on a 4-3 fielders-choice.

With one on and two outs Grindell drove home Broussard for his fourth RBI of the year.

"Nate’s valuable in the fact that he can move around and play various positions, he played a real good third base today. He plays good in left, anywhere in the corners really. He steps up and he seems relaxed. He just tries to take advantage of each and every at-bat he gets." Said Bison’s manager Marty Brown.

"That’s the key. He and Scott (Pratt) have kind of been in that role where they’re getting to play every so often, not on an everyday basis. Both of those guys have been great with it. They just go out and make the best of whatever outing they have."

Buffalo received another strong outing from starting pitcher Jason Phillips who scattered four hit over six innings. Phillips gave up one unearned run had five strikeouts and two walks as his record improves to 4-0.

Red Baron’s starter Ryan Madsen (1-2) took the loss. He worked five innings for Scranton (10-12). He gave up two runs on four hits while notching four strikeouts and two walks.

Lance Caraccioli came on in relief for Buffalo in the seventh, giving up one hit and striking out two batters. Chad Paronto closed the door in the final two frames to record his first save of the season. Paronto struck out two and surrendered a-base on balls.

Buffalo got on the score board first when Greg LaRocca’s sacrifice knocked in Coco Crisp in the first inning. The Red Baron’s lone run came in the top of the third when Jeremy Salazer scored on a Juan Sosa base hit.

The Herd and Red Baron’s close out their two-game set Sunday at 2 PM. Dave Burba (1-2) will be on the mound for Buffalo against Josh Hancock (2-2).

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