An unlucky 13th as Bisons fall 4-1 in extras
Gwinnett scored three times in the top of the 13th inning to defeat the Bisons, 4-1, on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Field. The Braves were down to their final at-bat in regulation, but Cedric Hunter's pinch hit home run in the ninth paved the way for Gwinnett's extra-inning victory.
In a game dominated by the pitchers from both squads, the Braves finally broke through in the 13th inning off Buffalo reliever Gregory Infante. Five straight batters reached base with Daniel Castro following Sean Kazmar's single with a double down the right field line to break the 1-1 tie. Gwinnett then drew three straight walks off Infante to push across an insurance run and knock the righty from the game.
Jose Peraza made it 4-1 Braves with a sacrifice fly off Andrew Albers.
Bonus baseball was needed because of the late inning heroics from Hunter. With the Bisons holding a 1-0 advantage, Hunter pinch hit for Mycal Jones and clubbed a solo home run to right field off Herd newcomer Blake McFarland. It was the first pinch hit home run against the Bisons in over eight years, dating back to International League home run king Mike Hessman in April of 2007 in Toledo.
The Bisons held the 1-0 lead until the ninth thanks to solid work on the mound. Randy Wolf was brilliant in his team-leading 15th start of the season, allowing just five singles and no walks while striking out five in seven shutout innings. He left with a chance to earn his sixth win of the season as the Bisons scored their only run in the seventh when Matt Hague led off the inning with a double and came around to score on doubleplay.
Gwinnett starter Cody Martin was equally impressive in a no-decision with one run allowed in seven innings. The G-Braves bullpen then shutdown the Herd, yielding just two hits while striking out eight in six innings of work.
Buffalo did have the bases loaded in the 11th inning, but reliever David Carpenter struck out Matt Hague to end the Bisons' best chance to score.
BISONS NOTES
Tuesday's game was the fourth time this season Randy Wolf threw seven shutout innings, but was not awarded a winning decision. He leads the Bisons with a 2.81 ERA… The Bisons had two hits with runners in scoring position, but neither scored a run. Daric Barton had a bunt single in the seventh and Munenori Kawasaki's single in the 11th was hit too hard to score Josh Thole from second base…Caleb Gindl picked up an outfield assist when he threw out a runner from right field with two outs in the bottom of the 13th.