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Herd a bit better at home  |
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The Buffalo Bisons are struggling with one of the worst early season records in team history at 11-17 good for only a .393 “winning” percentage. A very un-Bisonly record, but the team’s return to Dunn Tire Park this week may have just been the change of scenery the oft-bumbling Herd needed.
The Herd went back home on the 26th of April against their latest nemesis Pawtucket and were instantly able to change the team’s fortunes. The Bisons have captured four of five games on the latest homestand with three left to play. With warmer weather, the hope is hotter bats and credible pitching will become the norm rather than the exception for Cleveland’s top minor league affiliate.
The Herd’s latest effort took advantage of a fine pitching performance by ace Jeremy Sowers. After suffering through a hard luck April, Sowers was dominating in his 5-2 victory over the Charlotte Knights at Dunn Tire Park.
After falling behind 1-0 the Bisons took the lead at 2-1 on a Brad Snyder double. The fifth inning was the deciding inning for Buffalo as its first five batters reached base and the damage was done from there. Josh Barfield, Ben Francisco, and Aaron Herr all hit for extra bases. The coup de grace came on an Andy Gonzalez homer.
The game was a rebound from an exciting, albeit losing effort to the Yankees of Scranton. Down by as many as eight runs, the Bisons clawed back only to lose by a score of 10-6. The loss could not diminish the turnaround for the Bisons that saw the Bisons rip off four consecutive wins.
Perhaps the most rewarding win was a 5-2 victory over the Yankees who have quickly become a rival of the Bisons. Fransisco hit his first home run of the year to pace the Herd. The Bisons were also helped by a three hit performance by Jason Cooper. Jason Tyner and Wyatt Toregas also batted in doubles for the Buffalo cause.
The game followed a fine Buffalo performance in a victory over 2007 World Series MVP who pitched for the Pawtucket Red Sox. Josh Barfield homered to lead the cause in a 4-3 victory over the PawSox. The dinger was Barfield’s fourth in five games this season against the Red Sox.
Aaron Herr added to his RBI total with two more, but it Mulhern’s run in the seventh that made the difference in the affair.
In the first game of the series sweep, hurler Jeff Harris tossed six complete innings to earn a 4-1 victory over Pawtucket in the friendly confines of Dunn Tire Park. Voted as most inspirational by his team last year, Harris pitched on short notice and rest for Manager Tory Lovullo and his Bisons mates.
Harris pitched six innings and only let up five hits for his first win on the 2008 season. Harris was helped as Lovullo went to the bullpen for three relievers to close the door on the Pawsox. Danny Sandoval and Barfield put in fine performances for the Herd.
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