Bisons fall to RailRiders 5-2 despite Talley’s four-hit night

MOOSIC, PA — After opening their six-game series with a shutout win, the Buffalo Bisons fell to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 5-2 on Wednesday night from PNC Park.

Bowden Francis made his 12th start of the season for the Herd and cruised through his first two innings, punching out four of the seven batters he faced, but unravelled in the third when the RailRiders put up a four-spot to jump out to an early lead.

Chris Owings doubled home Tyler Wade before an RBI single by Estevan Florial and a sac fly off the bat of Ben Rortvedt ended Francis’ night after three frames.

Cullen Large put the Herd on the board in the fourth with his fifth home run of the season, but Wade would respond with a solo shot of his own his next time up off Graham Spraker to put Scranton back up by four.

L.J. Talley’s third of four hits drove in a run in the seventh to cut the lead to three, but a 4-6-3 double play killed the would-be rally. The Herd had no shortage of baserunners — Spencer Horwitz alone reached base four times — but hit into three double plays, ultimately leaving 13 men on base.

Eric Yardley and Foster Griffin combined for 2.2 scoreless frames to keep it within three, but Scranton closer Greg Weissert would complete the five-out save to end the ballgame.

The Bisons and RailRiders will continue their series tomorrow night, with Thomas Hatch set to face off against Matt Krook. The last time the Bisons faced Krook on July 1, the lefty took a perfect game into the eighth inning and struck out 10. The Herd will look to fare better this time around, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. EST.