Bisons down Red Barons

Ben Francisco homered in a four-run fifth inning as visiting Buffalo beat Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 4-2, on Wednesday to snap a four-game losing streak.

Leading 2-0, Red Barons starter Seung Hak Lee (3-2) loaded the bases on a walk and two singles before uncorking a wild pitch that allowed the Bisons to halve the lead. Francisco followed by driving his fourth homer over the left-field wall.

Buffalo starter Jeremy Sowers (3-1) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and three walks. He was removed after allowing a pair of runners with one out in the sixth. Steve Karsay got out of the jam, allowing just one hit in 2 2/3 innings.

Ben Howard pitched around a one-out single in the ninth to record his fifth save for the Bisons (14-13).

Carlos Ruiz had three hits, including RBI singles in the first and fourth, for the Red Barons (17-10), who lost for just the fourth time in their last 18 games. --Carl Dispoto/MLB.com