Bisons and Rochester split doubleheader Saturday

ROCHESTER, NY - The Buffalo Bisons and Rochester Red Wings split their doubleheader with the Bisons winning game one 4-2, while Rochester secured the split with 2-1 victory in game two at Innovative Field on Saturday evening.

The Bisons were able to answer a pair of early Rochester runs with two of their own in the top of the second inning to tie the game at two. Leo Jimenez drove in two with a two-run base hit, scoring Addison Barger and Brian Serven. Both of the two base runners reached base on doubles against Spenser Watkins. Jimenez would be left stranded at third base in a 2-2 game midway through the second inning.

Serven would plate the next Bisons run to give the team a 3-2 lead in the top of the third inning. The two-out base hit scored Nathan Lukes who reached base on a fielder’s choice earlier in the frame. The hit was Serven’s second of the game and his ninth multi-hit game of the year.

Back-to-back extra-base hits allowed the Bisons to double their lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning. Lukes added an RBI double that scored Spencer Horwitz after the Buffalo first baseman led off the inning with a triple. It was the first triple of the season recorded by any batter on the team.

Bowden Francis was credited with a victory with 2.1 innings of relief after Andrew Bash made the start for the Bisons. The win was Francis’ first on his Major League injury rehab assignment. Hagen Danner secured his third save of the year by recording the final three outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Rochester scored first in both ends of the doubleheader, breaking through for a solo run in the bottom of the first inning the nightcap. Darren Baker led off the inning with a base hit and scored thanks to a Trey Lipscomb single to right field.

The Red Wings would double their lead to 2-0 with another run in the bottom of the sixth inning against Paolo Espino. The Bisons starter worked 5.1 innings, allowing just a pair of runs to Rochester. Carter Kieboom would deliver the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to center field to increase the lead to two.

Barger tried to bring Buffalo back in their final at bat with a solo home run that trimmed the deficit to 2-1. The young infielder’s fifth home run of the season was estimated at 417 feet. However, Rico Garcia would record three straight outs following the homer to preserve the one-run victory.

The two teams will close out their six-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Troy Watson is scheduled to start for the Bisons against Rochester.