Bisons rally past Hens in extras

 Buffalo topped Toledo Saturday evening to take a two-games-to-one lead in the four-game series. The 5-2 loss is only their fourth of the month.

Buffalo topped Toledo Saturday evening to take a two-games-to-one lead in the four-game series. The 5-2 loss is only their fourth of the month.
The Mud Hens jumped out in front first Saturday thanks to Matt den Dekker. The outfielder snapped his two-game hitless streak in the second with a two-run moonshot. The second runner he batted in - his 11th of the year - was JaCoby Jones, who walked to begin the inning.
The lead only lasted until the fifth when Buffalo picked up a two-runner of their own courtesy of Jason Leblebijian. His team-leading 11th homer of the season followed the same sequence as den Dekker's: a leadoff walk followed by a home run.
Nine innings were not enough to break the tie, so it carried on into extras after six scoreless innings between the teams. Toledo had their chances, most notably in the 11th when Tyler Collins tripled with one out, but it was squandered when he was thrown out trying to take home on a Jeimer Candelario flyout to left.
Now with the momentum, the Bisons got things going in their half of the 12th. Danny Jansen led off with a single, and runners were soon on first and second when Jon Berti reached on an error by Omar Infante. Manager Mike Rojas opted for lefty Kyle Ryan, but it did not matter to Buffalo's bats: Roemon Fields walked to load the bases, and Christian Lopes brought everyone in with a double to the gap in right-center. Ryan did not help his case when he threw a wild pitch that allowed Lopes to advance to third. Lopes was not there long before Dwight Smith, Jr., singled him in to blow the game open and make it 6-2.
Not to be lost in the losing effort was the solid outing by Hens starter Buck Farmer. The righty struck out six while allowing just five hits and two runs through six frames.
Now turning to Sunday's series finale, the Hens hope to hit the road with a series split with the Bisons.