Buffalo's Darnell Sweeney hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning, helping the Bisons outlast the Tides 8-6 in a wild contest Saturday night at Harbor Park.
Buffalo's Darnell Sweeney hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning, helping the Bisons outlast the Tides 8-6 in a wild contest Saturday night at Harbor Park.
The game was actually scoreless headed to the eighth frame, but the two teams combined for 14 runs on 14 hits over the final four innings to turn a pitcher's duel into a high-scoring affair.
Buffalo broke the scoreless deadlock with three eighth inning runs, but Norfolk answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull within 3-2. The Bisons added another run in the ninth to take a 4-2 lead, but Norfolk center fielder Joey Rickard knotted the score at 4-4 with a two-out, two-strike, two-run double off the left field wall to send the game to extra frames.
The Bisons re-took the lead in the 10th inning, as Danny Espinosa plated Anthony Alford - who had started the inning on second base - with a double down the left field line. The Tides answered back again though, as Andrew Susac plated Alex Presley - who had also started the inning on second base - with a one-out single.
In the 11th, Sweeney opened the frame with a two-run homer off of Matt Wotherspoon (1-1) to give the Bisons a 7-5 lead. Buffalo later added a run on a throwing error to take an 8-5 advantage.
Norfolk didn't go quietly in the bottom of the 11th, as Engelb Vielma scored Garabez Rosa with a two-out single. The Tides would eventually bring the winning run to the plate, but Luis Santos got Presley to pop up to short, giving the Bisons the 8-6 win.
Norfolk got a great start from Jimmy Yacabonis, who limited the Bisons to two hits over five shutout innings. Yacabonis, who is in his first season as a starter, set a new career-high with his five innings of work, over which he struck out three while issuing one walk. He threw 41 of his 63 pitches for strikes as he lowered his ERA to 3.60 through three starts this season.
Jaycob Brugman tripled and singled twice for the Tides, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped with the setback.
The two clubs will meet in the rubber match of their three-game set on Sunday afternoon at Harbor Park, with first pitch slated for 1:05. David Hess (0-0, 1.00) is set to make the start for Norfolk and will be opposed by right-hander Deck McGuire (1-0, 10.80).
Sunday's contest is Bark in the Park, as fans can bring their dog to Harbor Park to enjoy the game with their four-legged friend. Dog tickets are just $5, with all proceeds from the dog tickets donated to the Norfolk Animal Care Center and the Norfolk SPCA.
Notes: Prior to Saturday's game, infielder Engelb Vielma was activated to Norfolk's roster after he was optioned from Baltimore. Vielma took the roster spot of infielder Milton Ramos, who was transferred to Aberdeen… Andrew Susac and Rubén Tejada both extended their hitting streaks to nine games…Joey Rickard has reached safely in all 10 games in which he's had a plate appearance this season.
April 21 video highlights
