Knight Sits Down Eight Chiefs on Strikes in 6-3 Loss
Brandon Knight followed Casey Fossum's nine strikeout performance on Friday with an eight strikeout start Saturday. The Bisons hurler allowed seven hits over six innings. He was charged with three runs, two coming on one pitch to Pete Orr in the fourth inning. With two outs and Ryan Langerhans already aboard with an RBI double, Orr sent an 0-1 pitch over the rightfield fence for a 3-1 lead.
The Chiefs (4-5) added some insurance runs in the seventh inning, sending eight batters to the plate against relievers Connor Robertson and Jon Switzer. Syracuse shortstop Seth Bynum began the inning with a single to center. Then, trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, Jorge Padilla reached first base safely to put two aboard. Corey Patterson loaded the bases as the next batter, reaching safely on an error by Bisons' shortstop Jose Coronado. The Washington Nationals affiliate plated two runs off the threat, getting a sacrifice fly from Kory Casto and an RBI walk from pinch hitter Brad Eldred.
Bynum homered in the 8th to give the Chiefs their final run.
Buffalo's offense made things interesting late. With one out in the ninth inning, Jason Cooper doubled to the gap in rightfield. He scored on a mammoth homerun from Michel Abreu to left. A single from Rene Rivera knocked Chiefs reliever Jason Bergmann from the ballgame. Garrett Mock came in from the bullpen and ended the threat.
The Herd got on the board for the first time in the third inning with Jose Coronado scoring on a Jesus Feliciano single.
In his first action for the Bisons this season, the Herd's all-time leader in games played, Cooper doubled in the ninth inning to go 1-4 in his 2009 debut. All three of Cooper's outs were well struck to the outfield, including a hard liner in the second.
Buffalo faces Syracuse in game three of a four game series Sunday at 2:00. Jonathon Niese is slated to throw for the Bisons. JD Martin will toss for the Chiefs.