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Bison Game Story Archives - May
Braves sweep Herd
Richmond 3 Buffalo 2
By Dave Ricci
May 25, 2003
Thud. And so ends the Herd’s most recent home stand.
The Richmond Braves (26-23) completed the four-game
sweep of Buffalo (28-17) with a 3-2 win in front of an
announced crowd of 7,338 Sunday afternoon at Dunn Tire
Park.
Like the previous three games, fielding mistakes dug
the Bison’s grave and R-Braves pitching nailed the
coffin shut.
Bison manager Marty Brown gave credit to a talented
Richmond team who made the most of the Bison mistakes
during the course of the series. “They seemed to have
capitalized on everything we did (wrong) in this whole
series. We kick the ball they took advantage of it. We
got behind in the count or had a leadoff walk they took
advantage of it. They’re going good now they’re playing
pretty well.”
While the R-Braves certainly made the most of Bison
miscues, the key in this series was the stellar work
from the Richmond bullpen.
In 14 innings of work the Richmond relievers yielded
only three runs and effectively neutralized all hopes
the Bison’s had of any late inning rallies. Brown said,
“Our game plan at the plate was not the best in this
series. I don’t think we really were our true selves
we’ve got to get back to doing the little things.
Situational hitting killed us three of the last four
games. We didn’t get runners in from third base it’s
something we really have to concentrate on.
We didn’t move runners effectively we didn’t get
runners in from third with less than two outs. Their
pitchers made (good) pitches but I don’t think our
overall game-plan was what we wanted it to be.”
Bison starter Jamie Brown (4-2) lasted five innings
and gave up five walks, coming into Sunday’s game Brown
had walked just three batters in five games.
Buffalo got on the board in the first when Travis
Hafner singled home Coco Crisp. Richmond countered in
the second with RBI singles from Damon Hollins and
Wilson Betemit to take a 2-1 lead.
Back-to-back doubles from Alex Escobar and Luis
Garcia tied the game until a Jason Fitzgerald bloop-single
to center field scored Porter for what turned out to be
the game winner.
Travis Phelps struck out the side in the ninth for
his second save of the year. “Their bullpen definitely
did shut us down,” said Bison’s infielder Nate Grindell.
“Each game they brought in the one guy who kind of threw
soft then they had the hard (throwing) lefty (Bobby
Jones) to back up any pinch-hitting lefty we’ve got.”
Going 3-for-3 Grindell was the most proficient Bison
with the bat. But he didn’t do himself any favors when
he made a half-hearted attempt at catching a ball in
foul territory in the second. Richmond’s Ramon Castro
was at-bat when his foul tip sailed towards Grindell who
chugged towards the ball but seemingly let it drop
without a solid effort to catch it.
Andy Pratt (2-3) struck out six over seven innings
and got the win. Bo Porter went 2-for-3 with a walk and
two runs scored for Richmond.
Tim DeCinces was inserted into the line up at the
last minute when it was determined that Karim Garcia
would not be able to play because of persistent soreness
in his wrist.
This was DeCinces first game since April 16. He went
0-for-4 with three strikeouts and hit into a double
play.
Garcia will most likely head to Cleveland this week
for tests on his wrist. Marty Brown seemed optimistic
about Karim joining the Herd sometime during their eight
game road trip to Louisville and Columbus.
In two games with Buffalo Garcia was 2-for-9, 1RBI.
A Garcia family reunion? Four participants of the
Buffalo-Richmond series shared the Garcia handle. Karim,
Luis and (hitting coach) Carlos for Buffalo and Jesse
for Richmond.
Lance Caraccioli (1-2), Jason Stanford (5-0), Jeremy
Guthrie (0-0) and Brian Tallet (4-2) will be the
starting rotation for the Louisville series May 26-29.
Marquis shuts down Herd
Richmond 3 Buffalo 1
By Dave Ricci
May 24, 2003
The Richmond Braves (25-23) continued their mastery
of the Buffalo Bison’s Saturday afternoon at Dunn Tire
Park as they won 3-1 for their third straight victory
over the Herd. Jason Marquis (3-2) was able to take
advantage of home plate umpire Webb Turner’s generous
strike zone as he worked the corners perfectly and
fanned 11 Bison’s in seven innings.
Bison’s manager Marty Brown said, “I think he set
everything up with his fastball his off speed stuff was
great. He threw the ball pretty hard and we chased some
stuff up in the zone. He didn’t have great command, I
think he just had good velocity.
With his command all over the place it was tough.
His catcher is setting up in and he’s throwing away, you
can look on the tapes and see it. You have to credit him
he threw the ball hard and he stayed in the zone enough
and he made big pitches when he had to. When a guy is
running it up like that and he can throw his off speed
stuff out of the zone you have to start your hands
(sooner) a lot of our guys swung at some bad pitches.”
Marquis did indeed force the Bison’s to swing at
some bad pitches but it was also their lack of swinging
that did in Buffalo (28-16). They were caught looking at
four of their 16 strikeouts.
To his credit Bison starter Brian Tallet pitched a
quality game but his defense broke down at a crucial
point in the game.
The R-Braves were up 1-0 in the fifth, with Bo
Porter on first base Mike Hubbard stroked what appeared
to be an easy ground out at Bison second baseman Zach
Sorensen.
Sorensen came up with the ball, but instead of
stepping on second base for the force out he opted to
toss the ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta. The ball was
bobbled in the attempted transfer resulting in Porter
and Hubbard both being safe.
Had Sorensen fielded the ball cleanly that would
have been the second out of the inning.
With two on and one out Tallet struck out Nick
Green, the Bison’s should have been out of the inning
with no run damage.
Damon Hollins, who’s home run opened the scoring in
the second inning, line a hot grounder towards third
base. Greg LaRocca’s tried to charge the ball but it
bounced off his glove allowing Hollins to reach first
and load the bases.
Another play that should have resulted in an out and
the end of the inning, instead Tallet was facing a bases
loaded situation.
Ramon Castro drove a Tallet offering into left field
for a single that scored Porter and Green giving
Richmond a 3-0 lead. Castro was thrown out trying to
advance to second on the hit finally the inning was
over.
Brown said, “Brian was a definite positive I’m proud
of the way he battled…unfortunately we made a couple of
errors. I saw Brian picking his teammates up. I didn’t
see that on the other side of the field.”
Tallet (4-2) was charged with one earned run in his
seven innings of work, striking out five and walking
three.
Tallet said, “We made couple of errors but you know
the teams been picking me up all year so really I don’t
fault them. I could have made a better pitch in that
situation when the guy (Castro) got the single.”
Sorensen scored Buffalo’s only run in the sixth when
he came home from third on a Marquis wild pitch.
Joe Dawley worked 1-1/3 innings of relief striking
out three Bison’s for his seventh save of the season.
The series concludes Sunday with a 2:05 P.M. start.
Jamie Brown (4-1) will take on Andy Pratt (1-3).
Richmond 13 Buffalo 7
A comedy of errors.
By Dave Ricci
May 22, 2003
The Richmond Braves 13-7, win over the Bison’s
Thursday night at Dunn Tire Park was a comedy of errors.
Errors, wild pitches, hit batters, booted balls and over
throws.
The Bison’s (28-14) took an early 1-0 lead on Coco
Crisp’s first home run of the year, but in the top of
the second Richmond tagged Bison starter Jason Stanford
for five runs.
Johnny Estrada opened with a single then advanced to
third when a Stanford throwing error allowed Travis
Wilson to reach first base.
That error set the tone for the rest of the night.
Stubby Clapp’s grounder was booted by Bison shortstop
Jhonny Peralta, allowing Wilson to score. A ground rule
double by Bo Porter and a Nick Green home run put the
R-Braves in front 5-1 and seemingly on their way to a
win.
R-Braves starter Chris Fussell imploded during the
bottom of the second as he issued a lead off walk to
Victor Martinez followed by three straight base hits and
back-to-back wild pitches, which allowed Buffalo to tie
the game, 5-5.
Richmond (23-23) scored another run in the third but
once again the Bison’s fought back and owned a 7-6 lead
after three. In the fourth Damon Hollins stroked the
second of Richmond four home runs to tie it once again,
7-7.
The Bison bats went cold after the fourth as they
could only muster a couple of hits while Johnny
Estrada’s seventh inning two-run home run and Bo
Porter’s ninth inning two-run blast helped Richmond put
the game on ice.
Jhonny Peralta had four hits a RBI and a run scored
for Buffalo. Johnny Estrada went 3-for-4 with two RBI
and three runs scored. Bo Porter and Nick Green both had
two runs scored and three RBI.
Dan Miceli took the loss (0-1) while Travis Phelps
(5-0) picked up the win for the Braves.
Greg LaRocca returned to the line up after being hit
in the face by a Pasqual Coco pitch on Monday. He flew
out deep to left field.
As we told you to expect in a previous column, Jason
Bere was on the hill for Cleveland Thursday night. He
pitched 5-2/3 and left with a no decision in the Tribe’s
3-2 loss to the Tigers.
Carl Sadler was touched for four runs on four hits
as he made his first appearance in a Bison uniform this
season. Sadler was the odd man out in Cleveland after
Bere was called up. Jake Westbrook was moved to the pen
forcing the Indians to send Sadler back to Buffalo.
Friday’s starters are scheduled to be Mike Fyhrie
(1-4) V. John Ennis (2-3). 7:05 P.M. start.
Bison’s beat Indy again
Buffalo 3 Indianapolis 1
By Dave Ricci
May 19, 2003
The Bison’s (28-13) won their third straight game
over the hapless Indianapolis Indians (15-28) by a score
of 3-1, but Greg LaRocca was not around to celebrate
with his teammates at the end of the game.
The Bison’s third baseman left in the bottom of the
first after being struck flush on the left cheek by Indy
starter Pasqual Coco.
At first it appeared as if the ball glanced off of
the earflap on LaRocca’s helmet. Replays proved that the
high and inside offering from Coco drilled “Roc” in the
face.
As Bison manager Marty Brown and trainer Nick
Paparesta attended to LaRocca they soon found themselves
having to restrain their player. Fully aware of his
surroundings LaRocca got up and commented how Coco was
the pitcher who hit him last year, causing “Roc” to miss
eight games with a broken finger, LaRocca was ready to
confront Coco but he was quickly taken off the field by
Brown and Paparesta.
The excitement didn’t end there. After Alex Escobar
flew out to right field for the final out of the inning
he and several other Bison’s found themselves in a
verbal confrontation with Pasqual Coco.
Coco was coming off the field headed for the Indy
dugout while jawing at the Bison’s. The umpire’s issued
a warning and told him to go back to the dugout. Coco
continued his verbal tirade in the process he crossed
the third base foul line back onto the field of play and
was promptly ejected.
Indians Manager Cecil Cooper came storming out of
the Tribe dugout and argued on behalf of his player.
Insisting that the Bison’s instigated the trouble with
taunts directed at Coco after he hit LaRocca.
Cooper’s pleads fell on deaf ears as Coco was the
lone player sent to an early shower. Escobar said, “It
was one of those games where it was really intense
because of what happened with LaRocca being hit. After I
hit the ball he (Coco) was staring at me and I stared
back and he started talking…I don’t know what he was
saying I couldn’t hear him and he got kicked out. I
don’t know (exactly) why he got kicked out but he had
the wrong attitude and I think the umpire did the right
thing to kick him out.”
It appears no one on the Bison’s side of the field
knew what the source of Coco’s emotional outburst was.
Marty Brown said, “He started mumbling something to Alex
(Escobar). You’d have to ask him (Coco) I don’t know.
I’m just fortunate enough to know that I don’t have
pitchers doing that stuff in this (Bison’s) uniform.”
X-ray’s on LaRocca’s cheek have come up negative,
showing no signs of serious injury. At this point he is
day-to-day with a bruised/swelled cheek.
This was the sixth batter in 41 innings that Coco
has hit, but Marty Brown commented that he didn’t think
it was intentional. “I think he tried to pitch him
inside. The bad part is he hit “Roc” last year and broke
his (finger). So “Roc” was pretty irritated after he
gathered himself getting up off the ground. I don’t know
what kind of pitcher he (Coco) is what kind of mentality
he has…people have to pitch inside “Roc” understands
that I think he got hit more than anybody (23 times) in
the International League last year. That’s part of his
game but you don’t like to see anybody get thrown at
like that around the head.”
John Conti drove in former Bison Mark Budzinski for
the Indians only run in the first inning. Four straight
hits keyed a two-run third inning for the Herd.
Coco Crisp, Nate Grindell and Victor Martinez each
drove in a run.
Jamie Brown went to 4-1 as he notched four
strikeouts while Chad Paronto picked up his sixth save
of the season. Mark Buddie (0-4) was on the losing end
of the decision.
Jason Stanford (5-0) will face Nate Teut (1-1)
Tuesday night at 7:05 P.M.
Herd tosses back-to-back blanks
Buffalo 4 Indianapolis 0
By Dave Ricci
May 18, 2003
Coco Crisp went 3-for-5 with two runs scored as the
Bison’s laid a second straight whitewashing on the
Indianapolis Indians 4-0, in front of 7,915 fans
yesterday at Dunn Tire Park.
Whether it’s a hit, walk, bunt, or hit-by-pitch,
Crisp is finding ways to get on board and play the role
of disturber.
Crisp said, “(I’m) just trying to get on base any
way that I can. When I get on, I try to stay in the back
of the pitchers mind.”
Both times Crisp came home were courtesy of Greg
LaRocca’s bat. “Roc” went 2-for-4 with two RBI and run
scored.
Brian Tallet (4-1) got the win striking out six over
his seven innings of work. The Indians are showing why
they are the not-so-proud owners of the International
Leagues worst team batting average. The Indians are
batting a humiliating 6-for-58 in the first two games of
this four game series.
Prior to the game, an Indy-insider commented how the
new ownership has shown no commitment to winning and the
players have picked up on it.
That could explain why Indy dogged it each time they
took the field. Indians manager Cecil Cooper, a former
Brewer great, publicly lambasted his troops less than a
week ago. In his comments a clearly fed up Cooper stated
he didn’t need this (type of aggravation) anymore.
Obviously still seething over his teams’ lack of
effort, Cooper’s post game comments on Sunday consisted
of a blunt “Get away from me. I got nothing to say to
you or anybody about anything!”
Losing pitcher, Dave Burba allowed three runs on
nine hits as he dropped to 2-4. Burba was granted his
release from Cleveland (May 3) to pursue what he hoped
was a better opportunity when he signed with Milwaukee
on May 4. He was less than pleased with his five-inning
performance against his old mates from Buffalo.
“It was terrible,” Burba lamented in the Indians
clubhouse after the game. “I was lucky to get away with
just (giving up) three runs in five innings. But that’s
part of the game. I just battled through with what I
had. I tried to get them to hit fly balls, when I gave
up a base hit I tried to get them to hit into double
plays but it just wasn’t happening. I wasn’t throwing
strikes, I didn’t have a breaking ball and my split
(finger fastball) wasn’t working…I just had a hard time
locating my fastball. I made a bad pitch on (Travis)
Hafner and he got a base hit, that’s the story of the
whole day bad pitching.”
Knowing that Cleveland is in a youth movement, Burba
hoped a change of employers would improve his chances of
returning to the Majors. But his situation with
Milwaukee doesn’t seem any better than what he had in
Cleveland. Judging by his comments his future isn’t any
more assured with the Brewers.
“I don’t know what their plans are, they don’t
really know either I don’t think. I don’t know how long
I’m going to play this out but I still enjoy playing,
even though I pitched terrible today…I battled and did
the best I could today it just didn’t work out.”
Jamie Brown (3-1) will take on Pasqual Coco (3-4) on
Monday’s 10:30 A.M. Kids Day, start.
Brown was moved up a spot in the rotation when
Cleveland designated Jerrod Riggan for assignment and
brought up Jason Phillips (6-0).
Bison’s get back on track
Buffalo 4 Toledo 2
By Dave Ricci
May 8, 2003
Jamie Brown (2-1) pitched a solid seven innings en
route to his second win of the season as the Herd got
back on the winning track defeating the Toledo Mud Hens
4-2 Thursday afternoon at Dunn Tire Park.
“We got a really good outing from Jamie Brown,” said
Bison’s manager Marty Brown. “All four games in this
series we were down early they scored first and we came
back. Our situational hitting (was better) we had a
couple of hit-and-runs. Jamie held them at bay while we
got the lead. Chad (Paronto) and Aaron (Myette) came on
and held the eighth and ninth, it turned out the way we
wanted it to.”
Happy as Brown was of the performance of Jamie Brown
the Bison skipper was equally displeased with catcher
Victor Martinez.
The highly touted rookie backstop had gone 4-for-25
(.160) during the seven-game-home-stand and wasn’t even
close to living up to his hype as one of Baseball
America’s top prospects. After going 0-for-2 with a walk
in his first three plate appearances Martinez hit a weak
grounder in the fifth inning. Toledo pitcher Seth
Greisinger scooped up the ball and toss out Martinez who
was lazily jogging down the first base line.
Annoyed with Martinez’ lack of passion Brown pulled
his young catcher from the game.
Brown said, “Do you want to come to the ballpark and
watch that? I wouldn’t pay to come see that so he’ll sit
down for a while and see if he figures out the way he’s
suppose to play this game. I don’t care if he’s on
Baseball America’s (top prospect list) or whatever he’s
on, he’s going to play the game the way it’s suppose to
be played for me.”
Brown lived up to his reputation as a no-nonsense
kind of manager who’ll tell it like it is. But he also
tempered his displeasure with understanding. “I’m not
going to sit here and rip Victor. He’s a young kid who’s
going through a tough time offensively and he’s fine
(overall). I just wish he would relax and have as much
confidence in himself as our staff does. He’ll be
alright it’s nothing that’ll be out of whack that we
can’t handle, he’ll be back on track in no time.”
Like the past two games Toledo (15-16) took an early
lead when Cody Ross singled home Ernie Young in the
second.
Like the past two games Buffalo (19-11) stormed back
to take the lead. This time the Bison’s were able to
hold the lead and bag the win.
Bison’s third baseman Greg LaRocca said, “I think
guys were pressing. Everyone wants to be the guy to step
up (and win the game). Everybody just has to relax and
do their thing.”
Coco Crisp went 2-for-4 with a run scored. LaRocca,
Ben Broussard, Jhonny Peralta and Dusty Wathan each had
one RBI.
Chad Paronto closed out the game with three
strikeouts in the ninth to earn his second save of the
season.
Seth Greisinger took the loss (3-3).
The Herd will have a brief work out at Dunn Tire
Park Friday morning before leaving for Indianapolis on
the first leg of an eight-day road trip.
Hens pluck Herd for a third straight time
Toledo 5 Buffalo 3
By Dave Ricci
May 7, 2003
An eighth inning double off the bat of Kevin Witt
drove home the winning run as the Toledo Mud Hens
(15-15) stunned the Bison’s with a 5-3 win Wednesday
night at Dunn Tire Park.
The Hens have taken three straight games from the
Herd, last nights loss equals the season high losing
streak that Buffalo (18-11) suffered through from April
12-14 when they lost a pair on the road to Ottawa then
one to Syracuse.
Bison’s manager Marty Brown said, “We’re getting
challenged a little bit we’ve got to rebound and come
out Thursday and try to salvage what’s left in this
series with one game. We haven’t been in this situation
before it’s kind of a learning experience.”
Bison starter Jason Phillips brought a 5-0 record
into Wednesday’s contest and gave the Herd what they
needed, someone on the hill that’ll take charge of the
game.
Phillips came through as expected for six innings as
he kept batters off balance by working the corners with
off speed pitches. Phillips yielded one run through six.
It was a solo shot from Cody Ross in the fourth.
A three run fifth innings gave Buffalo the lead but
like Tuesday night they were unable to hold the lead.
Ross led off the seventh with a single and was able to
advance to second on a throwing error from left fielder
Luis Garcia. After A.J. Hinch advanced Ross to third on
a sacrifice, Tom Evans launched a home run to even the
score at 3-3.
Phillips left after seven innings with eight
strikeouts and no walks issued. Though he didn’t get
tagged with the loss he was upset with himself for
letting the lead slip away.
Phillips said, “I’m not really concerned with the
“W”. I’m a little bit disappointed in myself as far as
the pitch selection. Ultimately the guys came from
behind and went ahead and I didn’t do my job. The guys
scored two, three runs and I just let the air out of the
sails. Yeah I threw the ball alright but my job is to go
out there and put a zero on the board.”
Toledo’s fifth and final run came when Ernie Young’s
single drove home Witt in the eighth.
Alex Escobar went 2-for-4 with a run scored for
Buffalo He scored on a Garcia ground out. Zach Sorensen
and Coco Crisp drove in the other two Bison runs. Greg
LaRocca went 2-for-4 for Buffalo and Jarred Riggan (2-1)
suffered the loss.
Shane Loux improved to 4-1 for Toledo while Fernando
Rodney notched his fourth save.
The series concludes today at 1:05 P.M.
Jamie Brown (1-1) will be on the mound for Buffalo
against Seth Gresinger (3-2).
Bison’s hit the wall
Toledo 10 Buffalo 4
By Dave Ricci
May 6, 2003
Make no mistake about it - the Buffalo Bison’s are a
good team. And through the course of a 140 plus-game
season, there will be peaks and valleys’. It happens to
every team. But make no mistake - Tuesday night at Dunn
Tire Park the Bison’s (18-10) had without a doubt their
worst showing of the year as they stumbled and bumbled
their way through a 10-4 loss at the hands of the Toledo
Mud Hens (14-15).
Home runs from Zach Sorensen and Luis Garcia helped the
Herd fashion a 3-1 lead at the end of five innings of
play.
In the sixth the wheels came off and the Bison’s
couldn’t stop the Mud Hens offense. Toledo batted around
their lineup in both the sixth and seventh innings. They
collected nine runs on seven hits and four walks. Bison
starter Brian Tallet and reliever Jose Santiago couldn’t
find their command and the Bison infielders couldn’t
find their hands.
First baseman Ben Broussard dropped a sure pop fly out
in foul territory in the sixth when the Mud Hen lead was
only 4-3. Jhonny Peralta booted a grounder that could
have stopped the bleeding in the seventh.
The normally dependable Tallet (2-1) coughed up six runs
on six hits and four walks. As he was pulled he argued
with home plate umpire Justin Klemm and was “thrown out
of the game.” Tallet will most likely be fined.
Earlier in the sixth, Klemm banished Bison pitching
Coach Terry Clark to the clubhouse after Clark
questioned Klemm’s strike zone.
Nate Robertson improved to 2-1 for Toledo. Kevin Witt
had a pair of doubles; two walks and scored twice.
Jhonny Perez, A.J. Hinch and Warren Morris all picked up
two hits in the win.
The series continues Wednesday night at 7:05 when
Buffalo puts Jason Phillips (5-0) up against Shane Loux
(3-1).
Herd goes down quietly
Toledo 3 Buffalo 0
By Dave Ricci
May 5, 2003
Like the weather, the Bison’s bats were unusually cold
in Monday night’s 3-0 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens. The
Herd was only able to muster four hits against Mud Hen
starter Andy Van Hekken (2-4) who went the distance
fanning four and walking two.
But don’t be too hard on the Bison’s they did what they
could, Van Hekken was in the zone. Bison manager Marty
Brown said, “He pitched ahead in the count, he made some
big pitches and made us swing at his pitches. The double
plays that he was getting, we were trying to stay back
and go the other way and he almost forced us into
hitting ground balls.”
As the game wore into the later innings the Herd took
their chances by jumping on Van Hekken’s first offering.
“He threw so many first pitch strikes early in the game
I think a lot of people went up there with the idea of,
rather than get down in the count I’ll be more
aggressive early in the count. In some instances that’s
not a good way to look at it. You want to get your pitch
to hit and what he did was throw his pitch and we didn’t
make the adjustment. Hopefully we learned something from
it because there’s a lot of soft-throwing lefties out
there that we should be getting on and driving the
ball.”
The Bison’s hit into three double plays on the night.
But to their credit they also turned two twin killing
with shortstop Jhonny Peralta figuring in both plays.
Mike Fyhrie (1-3) took the loss for Buffalo (18-9) as he
worked a decent five innings striking out five and
walking one. He gave up two earned runs and hit one
batter.
Alex Herrera struggled in his three innings of relief
work for Buffalo. He fanned three and gave up just one
run, but he committed two balks in the eighth inning.
Cody Ross went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Toledo. With the
win the Mud Hens (13-15) snap a five-game-losing-streak.
Derek Nicholson went 2-for-3 for Toledo.
Alex Escobar extended his hitting streak to five games.
Coco Crisp, Jhonny Peralta and Dusty Wathan collected
the other Herd hits.
The Bison’s and Mud Hens go at it again tonight at 7:05
P.M. Brian Tallet (2-0) (Buffalo) and Nate Robertson
(1-1) are the scheduled starters.
Lady Luck smiles on the Bison’s…again.
Buffalo 5 Louisville 3
By Dave Ricci
May 2, 2003
How does that old saying go? I’d rather be lucky than good. The 2003 Buffalo Bison’s (17-7) are both.
Lady Luck was batting clean up for the Herd as they pulled off another unusual come-from-behind win over the Louisville River Bats (15-11) at Dunn Tire Park, Friday night.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth with two men aboard, Zach Sorensen cranked the ball to deep right field. Bats outfielder Jose Cruz chased the ball down and appeared to have in his sights for a relatively easy catch near the wall.
But Cruz closed his glove too soon, the ball ricocheted off his glove and over the wall for a three run shot that gave Buffalo a 5-3 lead they hung onto for the rest of the game.
"Zach Sorensen, what can you say he’s been pretty clutch for us the last couple weeks. It seems like he really ups his game when the game is on the line. It’s nice to see, it’s what you want." Said Bison’s manager, Marty Brown.
The way Buffalo has been coming from behind to snare victories, they have to be striking fear in the mind-set of the rest of the I.L. Every one who faces the Herd comes into the game knowing that no lead is safe against the Bison’s.
"Yeah you want to do that," said Sorensen. "You want to create that atmosphere especially when people come into our ball park. More importantly I think we create that with in our own team that no matter what the situation is we can come back and get a victory."
Right now the Herd knows they’re in Louisville’s head. Bison’s third baseman Greg LaRocca said, "That’s not a good feeling, especially when you’re in control of the game like they were and we come back. Zach gets a home run and turns everything around in the eighth inning. Definitely we’re in their heads."
Jason Bere started the game for Buffalo on a rehab assignment from Cleveland. He threw 29 pitches over three innings yielding three hits and fanning two.
Marty Brown liked we he saw from the 31-year old right hander. "His command was good in and out he threw his breaking ball (with) no signs of pain. He felt pretty good about the outing as he came out of the game."
Bere is scheduled to make another start when the Bison’s travel to Indianapolis May 9-12. Prior to the Indy start Bere could also see action with single-A Kinston.
Jason Phillips came on in relief. He worked five innings and gave up three earned on four hits and picked up the win improving to 5-0.
Alex Escobar went 2-for-3 with two RBI and run scored and LaRocca went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Emil Brown had a two RBI double for the Bats in the fourth. Wilton Guerrero and Corky Miller each banged out two hits for Louisville in a losing effort.
Jason Boyd struck out two in the ninth inning as he recorded his third save of the year. Jose Acevedo (1-1) took the loss.
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