Bisons’ Bats Wake Up Late for Come From Behind Win

WORCESTER, MA - The Buffalo Bisons (11-5) logged five runs over the final three frames including three in the top of the ninth en route to a come-from behind 6-4 victory over the Worcester Red Sox (9-7) on Friday night at Polar Park. WooSox starter Ryan Weber cruised in his six innings of work, holding the Bisons to one run on five hits, while Jeter Downs tagged his second home run of the season.

After a scoreless opening frame, the Worcester offense started humming. Michael Gettys reached on a one-out double and advanced to third on a balk by Buffalo starter Nick Pearson. Catcher Chris Herrmann did the rest, knocking a single up the middle, plating Gettys and putting Worcester up 1-0.

The Bisons tied it in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Christian Colon, but that didn’t last long.

Pearson, the top overall prospect in the Blue Jays organization, and the tenth overall prospect in Major League Baseball, exited after three innings. Buffalo reliever Conor Overton started the fourth and was welcomed to the game with a leadoff single by Marcus Wilson. A couple pitches and one excellent jump later, Wilson stole second base. Jonathan Araúz then promptly launched a ground-rule double to left-center, scoring Wilson and reclaiming the lead for the WooSox. Araúz would eventually score on a Jack Lopez RBI single.

The WooSox took their 3-1 advantage into the seventh when right-hander Seth Blair relieved Weber. After two quick outs, the Bisons rallied after a base hit and a wild pitch, which set up an RBI single off the Worcester Wall by Nash Knight.

The rally went both ways. Downs, hitting out of the three-slot tonight, tagged a 1-0 pitch 389 feet over the left field wall for his second home run of the season to put Worcester in front, 4-2.

Colten Brewer started the eighth on the bump, where the back-and-forth continued courtesy of a Kevin Smith solo shot that brought the Bisons to within one, 4-3.

Marcus Walden entered in the 9th and Bisons catcher Riley Adams, who had earlier replaced the injured Juan Graterol, immediately hit a game-tying home run into the Worcester Wall seats. Three singles and a double later, Buffalo had scored two more and jumped ahead 6-4 going into the final frame. The score would hold there, as Buffalo relieverBryan Baker set the WooSox down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

The WooSox continue the six-game series against the Bisons on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Polar Park. Live television coverage is available across New England on NESN while radio coverage starts live at 3:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network. Buffalo’s LHP Nick Allgeyer (1-0, 2.70) will face off against Worcester’s Raynel Espinal (1-1, 5.63 ERA).