By: Brayden Peters
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Although the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra put on a show for the 12,529 fans at Sahlen Field, it wasn't the case for the Buffalo Bisons. They fell 3-1 to the Rochester Red Wings and Rochester's hitting led the way in this one. The Red Wings recorded nine hits and two of them were home runs. Those homers were credited to Carter Kieboom and Trey Lipscomb. Also, all three Red Wings runs came in two-out situations.
Lipscomb and Alex Call were pretty active in the batter's box, combining for four of the Red Wings' nine hits. Lipscomb ended the day going 2-for-4 at the plate while recording a run and an RBI. As for Call, he ended the day going 2-for-2, getting walked once and getting hit by a pitch to advance to first.
Although the Bisons were only able to muster one run in the loss, they recorded six hits on the night. Riley Tirotta and Cam Eden were the only Bisons that did the best statistically in the batters box. Tirotta went 1-for-4 while notching an RBI, a walk and getting struck out twice. As for Eden, although he went 0-for-2 at the plate, he picked up a run and was walked twice.
Red Wings starting pitcher Thaddeus Ward held the Bisons scoreless when he was on the mound. In 4.1 innings, he surrendered three hits and walked six batters while throwing four strikeouts.
As for Buffalo, Beau Sulser got the start on the mound. In four innings, he surrendered five hits and two runs along with a walk while throwing three strikeouts. Four innings pitched and 71 pitches are the most for Sulser in his last four outings.
Rochester struck first in the second inning. Erick Mejia batted in Jackson Cluff as Mejia got onto first base safely thanks to an error on Miguel Hiraldo. Hiraldo tried to get the groundout on first, but his throw took Tirotta off the base.
This isn't the first time Buffalo has given up a run with two outs in an inning this series. In a similar situation in Buffalo's 10-4 loss Tuesday in the first inning, the Bisons gave up eight runs.
Cluff got on base from getting a single off of a bunt. He advanced to second as Bisons catcher Phil Clarke failed to get the ground out at first base. His throw to Tirotta was off-target, giving Clarke an error.
Rochester proceeded to extend their lead in the third inning. Kieboom crushed the ball out towards left field for a home run.
The Red Wings continued to add more cushioning to their lead. Lipscomb hit a dinger out toward left field in the seventh inning to give Rochester a 3-0 lead.
Buffalo wasn't going down scoreless. In a bases-loaded situation in the seventh, Cam Eden scored thanks to Tirotta grounding into a force out at second base in which Gabriel Cancel was called out on. Eden reached first via an uncaught third strike from a passed ball.
The Bisons couldn't carry their momentum into the eighth or ninth innings. They couldn't bring Hiraldo or Alan Roden home in the eighth and went three up, three down in the ninth, sealing the 3-1 Rochester win.
With the win, Rochester improves to a 45-37 overall record and has a 7-2 record in the second half. Also, the Red Wings move into first place in the IL East and now have a 3-1 lead in the series against Buffalo.
As for the Bisons, the loss drops them to a 40-43 overall record and a 3-6 second half record. They fall to ninth in the IL East.
The Red Wings will look to go on a two-game winning streak when they host Buffalo Thursday at 6:45 p.m. for the July 4th Celebration. Spenser Watkins (5-3, 4.67) will get the start on the mound for Rochester. It is to be determined who will be the starting pitcher for Buffalo.
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