Bisons One-Hit Tribe, Take Finale 3-1

INDIANAPOLIS - Four pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Buffalo Bisons avoided a three-game sweep with a 3-1 win over the Indianapolis Indians Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field. Indy hadn't been one-hit in a game since July 21, 2016, a 1-0 triumph against Charlotte.

Buffalo (51-66) won for the sixth time in its last eight games thanks to starter Murphy Smith and five hitless innings from a trio of relievers. Smith, called upon for his fourth spot-start of the season, lasted four-plus frames before handing over to Jeff Beliveau (4-1).
Smith faced the minimum through three innings and struck out Max Moroff, Jordan Luplow, Edwin Espinal and Elias Díaz in succession for his four punchouts.
Indianapolis' (63-53) lone hit came on a Kevin Newman single that opened the fourth. Moroff was then hit by a pitch, but both runners were eventually stranded in scoring position when Diaz grounded out sharply to third.
The Bisons put together a two-out rally in the second to take the lead for good. Mike Ohlman dumped a single into shallow right and advanced to second on a Shane Opitz single up the middle. Jason Leblebijian then reached on an infield single to third, and Roemon Fields bounced the following pitch inside the third-base bag for a two-run double.
Hutchison (6-8) came one out shy of finishing the seventh. The right-hander struggled in getting the final outs in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh. Buffalo had a total of 12 batters reach base with two down, but the 26-year-old found his way out of trouble often. The Bisons left 14 men on base.
Indy cut its deficit in half in the fifth on an Eric Wood sacrifice fly to left. Jake Elmore blasted his first home run of the season off Johnny Barbato in the ninth to provide Chris Smith with some breathing room for his eighth save.
The Indians continue their seven-game homestand with the series opener of a four-game set against Syracuse Thursday night at Victory Field. The Tribe will send right-hander Nick Kingham (6-6, 4.00) to the mound while the Chiefs will counter with righty Phillips Valdez (0-0, 7.56). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.