Bisons drop opener 7-4 to Columbus

COLUMBUS, OH - The Buffalo Bisons were able to get early offense on Tuesday night at Huntington Park, but it was not enough to stop the Columbus Clippers in their 7-4 loss in the series opener.

Buffalo was able to strike first with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. The team was able to take advantage of a pair of walks in the inning before Orelvis Martinez’s RBI base hit gave the Bisons a 1-0 lead. The hit also extended Martinez’s hit streak to 10 games. Will Robertson added an RBI groundout one batter later to extend Buffalo’s lead to 2-0.

However, Columbus would answer back with the next seven runs in the game to help secure the victory. The Clippers tied the game 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth off of Bisons starter Andrew Bash. The righty worked the first 3 and 2/3 innings in the start and did not receive a decision.

Mike Mayers took over for Bash and surrendered four runs to the Clippers, taking the defeat on Tuesday. Columbus scored three times in the last of the fifth inning, including a two-run double off the bat of Jose Tena for a 5-2 lead. They would tack on two more runs for a five-run advantage through six frames.

However, the Bisons were able to score two in the top of the eighth to get within three, 7-4. Back-to-back RBI base hits by Rafael Lantigua and Leo Jimenez contributed to the Herd’s offense. Lantigua’s RBI single was in a pinch hit situation.

Buffalo had the bases loaded against ex-Bison Anthony Gose, but with two out in the top of the ninth inning Peter Strzelecki was able to record the game’s final out and preserve the three-run win.

The two teams will meet on Wednesday afternoon for a 12:05 p.m. first pitch. Left hander Ricky Tiedemann is scheduled to start for Buffalo in game two of the six-game series.