Bisons fall short against Indians, 2-1
The International League's top team for the first quarter of the season, Indianapolis showed off its impressive pitching staff, holding the Bisons to just three hits and one unearned run in a 2-1 win at Victory Field in the final game of the series Friday night.
Bisons starter Justin Germano went a solid seven innings, giving up nine hits and two earned runs while striking out one. His counterpart, Indy's Brandon Cumpton, threw six innings and struck out seven Bisons hitters, while walking four.
The Herd could not get in a rhythm at the plate, as its first four batters did not record a hit in the game and struck out a combined six times. The IL's leading hitter Jim Negrych went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, while RBI leader Luis Jimenez went 0-for-2 with the only run scored for the Herd.
The Indians scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh after Jerry Sands hit a triple off the center field wall to score Tony Sanchez, who was on second.
The Bisons threatened in the bottom half of the seventh after Negrych got on second with just one out, but reliever Vic Black struck out the next two batters to end in the inning and keep the score in favor of the Indians.
The Bisons opened the scoring in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Luis Jimenez scored from second on a throwing error to first by Harrison. The Indians were able to tie the game at 1 with a leadoff home run by Jared Goedert.
Germano got out of a jam in the bottom of the 4th inning by getting Sanchez to ground into a double play with one out and runners on the corners.
Former Pirate Juan Perez came in relief for Germano in the eighth inning, allowing no hits and no walks to keep the Bisons within reach. Indians reliever Vic Black struck out two and recorded his 11th save of the season in the win. The loss dropped the Bisons to just a half-game ahead of Pawtucket in the North Division. The Herd is 4-6 in their last 10 games.
BisonsNotes Germano has now pitched at least five innings in all 7 starts this season…66 of Germano's 99 pitches were strikes…The Bisons turned three double plays in a game for the second time against the Indians.