Bisons Get First Win in Wild One

Buffalo, NY (bisons.com) - Nick Evans was 0-15 with seven strikeouts to begin his Triple-A career with the Buffalo Bisons. But all that matters is what he did in at-bat No. 16 Sunday, slamming a walk-off homerun to deep right-centerfield, beating the Pawtucket Red Sox, 4-2, in 15 innings.

Out of bullpen arms, the Red Sox (3-1) turned to catcher Carlos Maldonado to pitch the 15th inning. The righty opened the frame by walking Bisons DH Fernando Martinez. That brought Evans to the plate. The first baseman sent an 0-1 fastball to the parking lot just beyond the right-centerfield fence to win the game. It's the first victory for Buffalo (1-3) this season.

The Herd had prior chances in both the 12th and 13th, putting runners in scoring position with less than two outs in each frame. In the 14th, Buffalo used singles by Jesus Feliciano and Omir Santos and an intentional walk to Argenis Reyes to load the bases with nobody out. The Bisons were unable to convert.

Things went well early for Buffalo - Ken Oberkfell's team jumping on Pawtucket pitching for the first time in 21 innings. The Herd had not scored against the Sox since Opening Day on Thursday. Jonathon Malo helped end that streak with a single off Paw Sox starter Clay Buchholz with one out in the bottom of the first. Malo would advance to second when the next batter, Martinez, walked on four pitches. Following an Evans strikeout, right fielder Bobby Kielty singled in Malo for his first RBI in a Bisons uniform.

Buffalo would make it a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jose Coronado reached on an Alex Ochoa error at second. Cory Sullivan walked to the plate next, taking a Buchholz offering to the left field fence. With two outs, Coronado was in motion with the pitch, allowing him to score from first without a throw. The extra base hit also knocked Buchholz from the game after just three and two thirds innings. The righty allowed two runs, only the first earned, on three hits and four walks while striking out three.

But having scored 16 runs in the first three games of the series, the Red Sox would not go quietly. Down 2-0, Ron Johnson's team plated a run in each the sixth and seventh innings. Jeff Bailey put his team in position, reaching on a Malo error in the fifth. After Jeff Natale walked, Paul McAnulty singled in Bailey to make the game 2-1. Chip Ambres then led off the sixth with a home run to tie the game. The score remained 2-2 until the 15th.

Starter Casey Fossum turned in a strong outing over his five innings on the mound for the Herd, shutting out Pawtucket on just two hits. The Bisons bullpen was solid as well, allowing just two runs in 10 innings of work. Kyle Snyder, Carlos Muniz, Ken Takahashi and Eddie Kunz threw in relief.

Buffalo will ride the momentum into a four game series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starting tomorrow. Game time is set for 1:05 as part of Anderson's 'Kid's Week.' Olympian Brandon Knight will throw for Buffalo. Southpaw Kei Igawa is scheduled for the Yankees.