Late offense propels Bisons to 5-3 victory over Worcester

WORCESTER, M.A. – The Buffalo Bisons scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to give them the lead late and ultimately defeat the Worcester Red Sox 5-3 at Polar Park on Saturday afternoon.

Shane Bieber made his second Major League injury rehab start and pitched 5 and two-third innings for the Bisons, while Andres Gimenez was back in the lineup at second base for Buffalo and collected four hits in the victory.

In both of the first two innings, Buffalo put a runner into scoring position, but were unable to bring either of them in. But in the third inning RJ Schreck continued his hot bat and hit a two run home run to give the Bisons the first lead of the game.

Worcester was able to answer back promptly with their first run in the bottom of the third, following back to back doubles from Seby Zavala and Nick Sogard which cut the lead to one for the WooSox.

The Bisons loaded the bases in the fifth after Gimenez singled for his second hit of the game and a pair of walks, but no damage was done and the runners were left stranded.

In the bottom of the fifth the WooSox were able to tie it at two off of a Nathan Hickey solo home run off of Bieber.

Two time all-star Bieber pitched in his second rehab start this year with the Bisons. Bieber threw five and two thirds innings, only allowing two earned runs and four total hits, while striking out six batters in the game. RHP Adam Kloffenstein relieved Bieber in the sixth.

In the seventh inning the Bisons got the lead back following three straight hits to start the inning. Jonatan Clase led off with a double, for his second hit of the night, Gimenez then singled again, which set up the Bisons with runners on the corners. RJ Schreck then singled in Clase for his third RBI of the game making it 3-2 Buffalo.

Kloffenstein pitched around a pair of walks in the seventh inning to maintain the one run advantage for Buffalo. In the eighth a Jhostynxon Garcia leadoff walk came all the way around to score after stealing second, advancing to third on an error, and scoring via a balk which tied the game at three going into the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, Buffalo untied the game yet again. Gimenez led off the inning with a single, for his fourth hit of the game. A Riley Tirotta double set up the Bisons with two runners in scoring position with one out. Yohendrick Piñango came through with a two run single giving Buffalo a 5-3 lead.

Kloffenstein picked up the win and the save for Buffalo, pitching three and a third innings, allowing no hits but one earned run. Kloffenstein struck out five WooSox batters in the win.

The two teams will close out their season series on Sunday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch at Polar Park. Lazaro Estrada is scheduled to start for the Bisons. Pregame coverage on The Bet 1520 AM, the Audacy app, and Bisons.com starts at 12:45 p.m. with the ‘Voice of the Bisons’ Pat Malacaro.