Bisons dominant in 7-1 victory over Rochester Friday night

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bisons used a four-run inning early and strong pitching throughout the game to help defeat the Rochester Red Wings 7-1 on Friday night at Sahlen Field.

CJ Van Eyk made his final start of the 2026 season and 18th for the Bisons on the season. He worked his longest appearance of the year going seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out a pair of batters. He was able to secure his seventh victory of the year.

The Bisons were able to strike first against Jarlin Susana in the bottom of the third inning. Rhylan Thomas led off the inning with a walk, the third allowed by the right-hander, followed by a Daz Cameron base hit. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, setting up a two-run double by Jay Harry with no out. Thomas and Cameron both scored to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead.

Peyton Williams added to the advantage with a two-run double of his own in the last of the third. Harry was joined by Josh Kasevich who reached on a walk. Four straight batters reached base against Susan before he recorded back-to-back outs. Former Bisons reliever Paxton Schultz came on to face Williams and allowed the two inherited runs to score. Buffalo took a 4-0 lead to the top of the fourth.

Rochester was able to cut their deficit to three runs in the top of the sixth. The team was able to get the first batter of the inning on against Van Eyk for the second straight inning. This time it was courtesy of a Cortland Lawson double down the left field line to ignite the offense. He advanced to third base on a fly out to center field and scored on a Trey Lipscomb ground out to third base. His 93rd RBI of the season made it 4-1 Buffalo in the top of the sixth.

The Bisons scored three more times in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the game unreachable for the visitors. RJ Schreck and Nick Goodwin hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the inning and extend the advantage to 6-1. It was the fifth time this season and the first time in September that the team hit back-to-back home runs in an inning. Daz Cameron capped the scoring with an RBI base hit to left-center field that scored Shawn Ross. His 22nd RBI with the Bisons made it 7-1.

Chad Dallas followed Van Eyk and worked a pair of scoreless innings. The right-hander did not allow a base hit in two innings. He also struck out two batters to combine with Van Eyk for four against Rochester. Each pitcher allowed one walk in their effort. Dallas was credited with his second save of the season as well.

The Bisons and Rochester meet for game five of their six-game series Saturday afternoon at Sahlen Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. with Grant Rogers making the start for Buffalo. The game can be heard on the air on WWWS AM 1400 with Paul Hamilton starting at 12:45 p.m. The game will also air on MyTV Buffalo with the ‘Voice of the Bisons’ Pat Malacaro and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Duke McGuire beginning at 1:00 p.m.