Schneider home run not enough in 2-1 loss to Charlotte

Charlotte, N.C. - Shane Murphy and CJ Van Eyk battled in a pitchers’ duel between the Buffalo Bisons and the Charlotte Knights on Friday night at Truist Field. A two-run second-inning home run by Joey Wiemer off Van Eyk put Buffalo down early, and it would stay that way as the Herd dropped their third game of the series and 11th of their last 15, 2-1.

Murphy and Van Eyk retired the game’s first nine batters, then to start the bottom of the second, Tim Elko singled, then Wiemer started the scoring with a two-run homer.

Following Wiemer’s homer, Van Eyk retired eight consecutive Knights before Wiemer singled back up the middle with two outs in the fourth.

Buffalo managed only two baserunners against Murphy, who retired the first 11 batters he faced, in his first five innings of work. The hits came when the rehabbing Anthony Santander and RJ Schreck picked up singles in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Herd finally managed to crack Murphy in the sixth, with Davis Schneider launching a two-out solo home run to cut Buffalo’s deficit to 2-1. It was his second home run of the series, with the other coming on Wednesday, and his ninth with the Herd in his 51st game with them in 2026.

Van Eyk exited after six innings. The only runs he allowed came on Wiemer’s homer, and otherwise, Van Eyk allowed four hits and struck out four batters in his 17th start of the season. It was his fourth start of at least six innings, which is the second-furthest he has gone all season. The other six-inning starts came on April 11 against Syracuse and May 27 against Lehigh Valley, and the latter start was his latest start of at least six innings.

In the seventh, the Herd got its first runner into scoring position on singles by Nick Goodwin and Lenyn Sosa, but Shawn Ross struck out to end the threat and keep the Bisons down on the scoreboard.

Sam Gardner was Buffalo’s lone reliever, and after allowing a leadoff walk to Junior Perez, Sosa retired Perez on a fielder’s choice to help Gardner pitch a scoreless frame. Gardner followed that up with a 1-2-3 eighth.

The Herd saw Murphy exit after seven innings of one-run ball, and Aidan Anderson replaced him for the eighth. Jay Harry was brought in to pinch-hit and was plunked to start, but Daz Cameron grounded into a double play to help Anderson keep the Knights in front. Anderson then returned for the ninth, and he pitched a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.

The Bisons and Knights will conclude this six-game set on Saturday at Truist Field in Charlotte with a day-night doubleheader. First pitch for game 1 is scheduled for 12:35 p.m., and the nightcap is slated for 5:35 p.m. RHP Richard Gallardo will get the nod in the first game for Buffalo, and RHP Grant Rogers will toe the slab in game two. You can listen to the action on The Bet 1520 AM, the Audacy app, and bisons.com starting at 12:15 p.m. with Pat Malacaro.