Bisons split doubleheader with Mets to snap losing streak

BUFFALO, NY — After an off day yesterday, the Buffalo Bisons split their doubleheader against the Syracuse Mets on Wednesday night from Sahlen Field. The Herd dropped the first game 9-4 before a big 6-4 comeback win in the nightcap snapped a season-worst eight-game losing streak.

Game one was an absolute slugfest by the Mets, as they hit seven home runs over the first four innings to jump out to an early lead they’d never relinquish.

Andrew Moore made his first spot start for the Bisons and was tagged for seven runs over 1.2 innings off seven hits and five home runs, including back-to-back-to-back shots by Gosuke Katoh, Deven Marrero, and the rehabbing Travis Jankowski. Travis Blankenhorn hit a pair of homers on the night, while Khalil Lee got into the mix as well.

Jake Elliott was responsible for two homers over his 2.1 innings, and while Eric Yardley and Mike Ellenbest each had scoreless outings, the damage was too much to overcome in a shortened, seven-inning game.

One bright spot for the Bisons was the Triple-A debut of Spencer Horwitz, who was promoted from Double-A New Hamsphire after slashing a blistering .297/.413/.517 over 70 games with the Fisher Cats. Horwitz singled in his first at-bat of the night and finished the game going 3-4 with a pair of doubles.

Nick Podkul hit a three-run homer in the third off Mets starter Thomas Szapucki, who allowed four runs over five innings, before Yoan López wrapped things up with two shutout innings.

Game two saw Bowden Francis have his best outing in recent memory, as the righty started and went three innings allowing just one hit — a solo homer to Kramer Robertson — while walking none and striking out six.

Eric Stamets doubled home L.J. Talley in the second to put the Bisons on the board, though the Mets would take the lead in the fifth when Johneswy Fargas drove home Robertson on a single that just squeaked past the drawn-in infield.

A wild pitch by Joe Biagini allowed another run to cross the plate, before Nick Plummer took him deep to make it 4-1 Syracuse in the sixth.

An RBI sac fly by Cullen Large and a bases-loaded infield single by Logan Warmoth cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the sixth, before a bases loaded balk by Mets reliever Michel Otañez allowed the tying run to cross the plate. Stamets then delivered another huge two-run double to put the Herd out in front 6-4.

Tayler Saucedo then came on and closed things out in the seventh to pick up the save and complete the comeback win.

The Bisons and Mets will continue their series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. EST., with Max Castillo scheduled to take the ball against Tim Adleman.