Lukes' big night launches Bisons to 8-1 win in Syracuse

Nathan Lukes’ four RBI night helped lead the Buffalo Bisons to an 8-1 victory over the Syracuse Mets on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium. The veteran outfielder’s three-run home run helped Buffalo secure a series victory with four wins in five games against the Mets.

The Bisons jumped on Syracuse starter Mike Montgomery in the top of the first inning to open the scoring. Otto Lopez led off the game with a base hit and would score two batters later on an RBI single by Vinny Capra. The utilityman’s 16th RBI of the year gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead.

Lukes would first add to his RBI total when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Capra to make it 2-0 Buffalo. The Herd sent seven batters to the plate against Mike Montgomery in the opening inning, the second time this season the team accomplished the feat.

Buffalo chased the left hander after seven batters on May 21 when he allowed a pair of hits, three walks and four runs while only recording one out. Montgomery lasted three innings for the Mets on Saturday and settled in after the lengthy first.

Casey Lawrence worked 5.1 scoreless innings in his 17th start of the season for Buffalo. The veteran allowed five hits and recorded three strikeouts without allowing a walk against Syracuse.

Lawrence has pitched at least five innings in all 17 of his starts for the Herd this season. The veteran earned his ninth victory of the season and his first since June 10.

Lukes capped a four-run top of the seventh inning for the Bisons with a three-run home run. His opposite field homer ballooned the Herd’s lead to 6-0. It was his seventh homer of the season, scoring Spencer Horwitz and Capra.

Deven Marrero broke up the Bisons’ shutout bid with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to bring Syracuse within five, 6-1. The homer came off of reliever Foster Griffin.

Nick Podkul became the fourth different Bison to record a four-hit game this season with a 4-4 effort. The infielder collected three singles and a double to account for nearly half of the team’s hits in the win.

The Herd added two more runs thanks to a two-run single by Zack Collins in the top of the eighth. It was the second straight inning that Collins picked up an RBI. He also was credited with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Buffalo and the Mets will close out the six-game series on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:05 p.m. Shaun Anderson is expected to start for the Bisons against lefty Tim Peterson.