Bisons late offense propels team 5-3 past Columbus

Addison Barger's ninth inning home run was the difference

By Pat Malacaro | Bisons.com

April 20, 2024

COLUMBUS, OH - A ninth inning home run was once again the difference as the Buffalo Bisons used a two-run shot for a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Saturday afternoon at Huntington Park. The Bisons once again scored first, they were able to score first in all five

COLUMBUS, OH - A ninth inning home run was once again the difference as the Buffalo Bisons used a two-run shot for a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Saturday afternoon at Huntington Park.

The Bisons once again scored first, they were able to score first in all five games of the series to this point. Rafael Lantigua led off the top of the second inning with a walk that was promptly followed by a Brian Serven two-run home run. The Bisons backstop belted the homer on the first pitch he saw as a member of the team. He was activated to the roster prior to the first pitch. It gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead.

Columbus would get one of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Kyle Manzardo. It was the first of two home runs for the Clippers first baseman in the game. It halved Buffalo’s lead to 2-1 through four innings.

The Clippers would record back-to-back solo home runs in the last of the sixth inning against Bisons starter Chad Dallas to flip the one-run deficit into a one-run lead, 3-2. Manzardo belted his second solo homer of the game and was promptly followed by a Johnathan Rodriguez solo blast. Mason Fluharty took over with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to keep Buffalo within a run.

Buffalo would have the quick answer in the top of the seventh against former teammate Wes Parsons. The right hander came out of the Clippers bullpen and surrendered the tying run on a groundout to the first baseman. Will Robertson’s RBI groundout scored Orelvis Martinez for a 3-3 tie.

Lukes led off the top of the ninth inning with an opposite-field base hit off of left hander Anthony Gose to help start the rally for Buffalo. Two batters later Addison Barger connected on a two-run homer to left field that gave the Bisons a 5-3 lead.

Zach Pop came out of the bullpen to record the final the final three outs for his second save of the season. Hagen Danner was also credited with his second win of the season with an inning of scoreless relief in the eighth inning.