Big Inning Buoys Bisons to 6-5 win

After three straight loses, the Bisons proved they were eager to put their longest skid of the early season behind them.

Buffalo scored four runs in the second inning, three on a bases loaded triple from Anthony Gose, and held on for a 6-5 victory over the RailRiders on Thursday night at PNC Field. Liam Hendriks continued his stellar start to the year as the Bisons improved to 10-9.

After beginning the campaign 6-2, the Bisons saw their record slip to an even .500 during this tough roadtrip to Pawtucket and now Northeast Pennsylvania. The Herd wasted little time on Thursday to right the ship before Saturday's homestand.

Buffalo sent eight men to the plate against RailRiders' spot starter, David Herndon. Dan Johnson singled to right and Kevin Pillar followed with a knock into centerfield to extend his hit streak to eight games. After a Steve Tolleson walk, Jared Goedert added a third hit of the inning to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead.

Two batters later, the sun was shining on the Herd. Anthony Gose squared up a pitch into right and the low line drive was temporary lost by outfielder Ramon Flores. The ball rolled past Flores and all the way to the wall, allowing Pillar, Tolleson and Goedert to score.

Thankfully, the Bisons didn't rest on their lead, extending their advantage to 6-0. RailRiders reliever Fred Lewis threw away a Matt Tuiasosopo comebacker to allow a run to score in the third inning. Chris Getz drove home run in fourth inning with one of his two hits on the night.

Buffalo needed every bit of their advantage and the RailRiders scored a run in the sixth inning and then four more in the bottom of the ninth with three coming on Zoilo Almonte's homer to right. Still with no outs in the final frame, Chad Jenkins came on to retire Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for his second save of the season.

Liam Hendriks improved to 3-0 on the season with more of his usual solid work. The righty did not walk a batter and struck out six in 5.2 innings of work. He has now begun the season with 21.2 innings of work without allowing a free pass.

BISONS NOTES:Kevin Pillar has averaged .367 (11-30) during his eight-game hit streak…Anthony Gose's triple was his first of the season. He led the Bisons with six triples in 2013…Gose, Chris Getz, Dan Johnson and Jared Goedert all had two hits in the contest.