Herd Fights Back, but Falls to Wings
There will be no playoffs for the Herd as the Red Wings eliminated Buffalo with a 5-3 victory in 14 innings in the final game at Dunn Tire Park this year. The Bisons will now go on the road for four more contests to close out the season, with two in Rochester and two in Ottawa.
While the Bisons failed to reach the post season for only the third time in 12 years as the Cleveland Indians affiliate, they continued to rally all night against their closest rival. Refusing to lose, Buffalo came back from down 2-1 in the eighth to force extra-innings and 3-2 in the 11th to keep the game alive. It took a two-run single in the top of the 14th by Red Wings' Terry Tiffee to finally put the game, and the playoffs, out of reach.
Jason Alfaro brought the Herd back first. His two-out RBI-double to deep right centerfield scored the Bisons second run of the night in the eighth inning. As the game went to bonus baseball, Rochester pulled ahead, 3-2, as Tommy Watkins drew a bases-loaded walk in the 11th.
But Buffalo came back again as Jason Dubois singled to lead off the bottom of the 11th for one of his three hits for the game. After a sacrifice bunt from Lou Merloni, Jonathan Van Every made another hustle play when he beat out an infield single. Asdrubal Cabrera tied the game yet again with a sacrifice fly to right.
While the tension was high throughout the game, things really began to heat up in the 13th inning. With one out and Jason Dubois at the plate, several members of the Bisons dugout took exception to a called strike. Pitcher Jason Stanford was immediately ejected, and both benches cleared in the ensuing argument just outside the Red Wings' dugout. About five minutes later, order was restored without any further ejections.
An inning later, Rochester pulled out the 5-3 win.
Buffalo scored first in the four-hour and 15 minute marathon game. Jason Dubois launched his team-leading 22nd home run in the bottom of the second. Garret Jones blasted his 20th homer of the year, and second in as many games, in the fourth inning to tie the game. Rochester took the 2-1 lead in the sixth on an RBI-ground out from Chris Heintz.
Brian Slocum started for Buffalo and threw six innings in his third consecutive no-decision. He scatted eight hits to allow just two runs to lower his season-ERA to 3.35. He also struck out four batters.
Juan Lara, Vic Darensbourg, Danny Graves and Dan Denham all pitched for the Herd. Denham (1-2) took the loss in his one inning of work.
BISONS NOTES: Prior to the game, the Bisons announced their 2006 end of year awards. Ben Francisco and Jason Dubois were named CO-Most Valuable Players...The sold out crowd of 18,025 brought the Bisons' season attendance to 607,928...Jason Dubois's home run extended his hit streak to 16 games. It's the second longest this season for a Bisons player (Francisco, 25-games)