Kratz's go-ahead homer completes Bisons' comeback

Bisons' catcher Erik Kratz took a mighty swing at a 95 MPH, first-pitch fastball in the ninth inning on Monday night -- just missing it and fouling it back

 

Two pitches later, Kratz didn't miss it -- sending an 0-2 fastball over the left field fence for a go-ahead, solo home run with two outs, that proved to be the difference as the Bisons upended the Red Wings, 7-6, at Frontier Field.

 

Kratz finished the night 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. In 13 games since joining the Herd, Kratz is hitting .348 (16-for-46). Kratz also had a two-run double in a three-run seventh inning that helped the Herd tie the game.

 

The Bisons had to claw back from being down, 6-3. The three-run seventh inning tied the game at 6-6. Anthony Gose started the rally with a two-out single, followed by Kratz's two-run double to score Johnathan Diaz and Gose. Dan Johnson then hit an RBI single to plate Krantz.

 

The Bisons bullpen tossed six-straight scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Austin Bibens-Dirkx came on in relief of Bisons' starter P.J Walters and gave the Bisons much needed length. After the bullpen pitched 6 ⅔ on Sunday because of a doubleheader, Dirkx tossed three scoreless and allowing just one hit and walking one. Bisons' right-hander Rob Rasmussen came on to pitch the seventh and eighth, not allowing a baserunner in two innings of work and striking out three.

 

Bobby Korecky closed the door with 1-2-3 ninth inning for his team-leading 12th save of the season.

 

The Bisons scored seven runs on 12 hits, going 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Four Bisons had multi-hit games, led by Gose, who went 3-for-5. Ryan Goins and AJ Jimenez went 2-for-4, along with Kratz's 2-for-5 night.

 

The Bisons had to fight back after Rochester doubled up the Herd, 6-3, with a five-run third inning.

 

James Beresford started the inning with a leadoff double, however, Walters settled down and got the next two batters to fly out. Walters had Wilkin Ramirez down 0-2, but an inside pitch hit Ramirez and prolonged the inning. The Red Wings then loaded the bases with an ensuing walk and made the Bisons pay. Brad Nelson started the scoring with a two-run single, Eric Farris followed with a two-run double and Pedro Florimon closed the five-run third with an RBI double.

 

Walters was chased after just three innings, his shortest outing of the season. The right-hander was charged with six runs, on seven hits and walked three. Walters entered the game with 2-0 record and a 0.95 ERA in 19 ⅓ innings with the Herd. He was coming off his best outing of the season against Syracuse when he pitched seven innings of shutout baseball, while striking out nine on July 2.

 

The Buffalo and Rochester will play the fourth game of their four-day, five-game series on Tuesday. Esmil Rogers (2-1, 2.83 ERA) will start for the Bisons and Alex Meyer (5-4, 3.46 ERA) will start for the Red Wings.

 

 

BISONS NOTES:

Jimenez has now hit safely in 28 of 36 starts with the Herd after a two-hit night. Johnson leads the IL in walks (78), 28 more than Brian Goodwin of Syracuse, who ranks second. Johnson needs nine walks to tie the Bisons' modern era record of 87 walks in a single season, held by Valentino Pascucci, who set the record in 2012. Infielder Ryan Goins extended his errorless streak to 40 games. Goins has made just four errors in 68 games with the Herd.