The first homestand of 2010 is in the books! The Herd took on the Pawtucket Red Sox and Scranton/WB Yankees and got great contributions from their offense, defense and pitching staff.
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BUFFALO –
Jason Pridie – CF
Russ Adams – 2B
Fernando Martinez – RF
Mike Hessman – DH
Chris Carter – 1B
Mike Cervenak – 3B
Omir Santo – C
Ruben Tejada – SS
Adam Pettyjohn – LHP
ROCHESTER –
Brian Dinkelman – LF
Trevor Plouffe – SS
Luke Hughes – 2B
Danny Valencia – DH
Wilson Ramos – C
Brock Peterson – 1B
Dustin Martin – RF
Matt Tolbert – 3B
Jason Repko – CF
Jeff Manship – RHP
~ Ben Wagner / Buffalo Bisons
Jason Pridie collected four hits and five RBI to lead the Herd to an 11-7 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field. Fernando Martinez added a three-run homer as Buffalo slugged their way to a winning homestand.
Pridie was at the heart of the Bisons attack all day. His three-run homer in the fifth inning gave Buffalo the 3-1 advantage. After Scranton/Wilkes-Barre built a 6-3 lead on homers from Chad Huffman and Jesus Montero, Pridie doubled to deep center to plate Ruben Tejada and close the deficit to two. Pridie, Bisons Out-Slug Yanks, 11-7Two batters later, the Bisons’ centerfielder scored when Fernando Martinez launched a three-run homer.
WATCH: More highlights from the Bisons’ slugfest CLICK HERE!
The Bisons’ 7-6 lead didn’t last long, however, as Herd-killer Eduardo Nunez singled home a run in the top of the eighth inning. The Yanks’ infielder had nine hits in the four-game series against Buffalo.
But Pridie and his Bisons’ teammates went back to work in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and Alex Cintron on second base, Pridie looped a single into center for the go-ahead run. Yankees reliever Kevin Whelan then walked Josh Thole and hit Martinez to load the bases. Mike Hessman provided the knockout blow with a three-run double off the wall in left field.
Pridie finished the game 4-5 with a double, a home run, five RBI, three run scored and his team-leading fourth stolen base. Along with Thole, Martinez and Hessman, the top four in the Bisons’ lineup combined to go 9-15 with seven runs scored, 11RBI, three doubles, two home runs and four walks.
BUFFALO – BISONS
Jason Pridie – CF
Josh Thole – C
Fernando Martinez – RF
Mike Hessman – DH
Chris Carter – 1B
Mike Cervenak – 3B
Alex Cintron – 2B
Jesus Feliciano – LF
Ruben Tejada – SS
Pat Misch – LHP
SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE – YANKEES
Kevin Russo – 2B
Eduardo Nunez – SS
Juan Miranda – 1B
David Winfree – DH
Jesus Montero – C
Chad Huffman – LF
Colin Curtis – RF
Robbie Hammock – 3B
Greg Golson – CF
Romulo Sanchez – RHP
ROSTER MOVE:
The Buffalo Bisons today announced that RHP TOBI STONER has been added to the team’s active roster. The New York Mets optioned the pitcher to the Herd on Monday night to make roster room for the debut of INF IKE DAVIS.
Stoner was recalled by the Mets on Sunday, April 18 following New York’s 20-inning win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Stoner helped a tired Mets’ pitching staff by throwing 2.1 innings of relief on Sunday against the Cardinals. Stoner allowed one run on three hits and a walk and suffered the loss in St. Louis’ 5-3 victory.
Stoner was 0-1 with a 4.32ERA in two starts with the Bisons to begin the 2010 season.
~ Ben Wagner
For the second time in a week, R.A. Dickey spun his knuckleball with great success at Coca-Cola Field. Dickey allowed just two runs in eight innings but the Yankees exploded late in a 7-2 victory over the Herd on Monday afternoon. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre scored one off the Bisons’ starter in the eighth inning and five off the Buffalo bullpen in the ninth to seal the victory.
Coming off a complete game victory in the team’s Home Opener, Dickey retired 16 of 17 batters in the middle of another solid outing. The righty kept Yankees’ hitters off balance by mixing in his up-tempo knuckler with a fastball on both sides of the plate. It wasn’t until the eighth inning the Yanks got the run they needed for victory.
Buffalo first scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. Josh Thole doubled over the head of Winfree in left field. The Herd then executed great fundamentals as Fernando Martinez chopped one to the right side of the infield to move Thole over. Mike Hessman drove a two-strike pitch to deep right field for a sacrifice fly and his team-leading 10th run driven in.
In the bottom of the ninth, Mike Cervenak hit his first home run of the season.
Prior to the game, the Bisons lost a key bat in their line up as Ike Davis got the call to New York. The 23 year-old prospect had his contract selected by the Mets to make his big league debut.
Bisons Notebook 