By Doug Smith
Niagara Gazette
BUFFALO — To the delight of the season’s third-largest crowd, the Bisons won the final inning Thursday night. And little else. Picked clean by the parent New York Mets, the tattered Herd faded from the International League playoff picture in a 9-2 Coca-Cola Field loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankeees. It wasn’t as close as it sounds.
The pre-game awards said it all on Fan Appreciation Night. Both the favorite player (Lucas Duda) and favorite pitcher (Pat Misch) were wearing Mets uniforms in Atlanta. Only utility man Mike Cervenak, remained from the home opening starting lineup.
So there was a small justice when Cervenak got the Bisons off the schneid with an RBI groundout with the score sounding like a forfeit, 9-0, in the ninth. More than 15,000 throats roared without a hint of sarcasm. J. R. House’s single drove in Buffalo’s final home run of the season.
Buffalo still had life two days ago when Duda got the call. Catcher Mike Nickeas, here a week, was beckoned Wednesday. Manager Ken Oberkfell had but one reserve on the bench.
Still, the Herd’s prospects looked promising with 13-game winner Dillon Gee on the hill, and Buffalo’s first two batters singled off hot Yankee prospect Kei Igawa. But Kei closed the door and starting in the third, the Yanks lit up Gee like the National Christmas Tree, seven hits for 12 total bases and seven runs. Eight and nine in the visitors’ order, Brandon Laird and Eric Bruntlett started out 6-for-6.
Seasoned Bison fans take pride in the success of those who played here.
“They’re like my children,” one of the biggest Buffalo boosters declares. Still, it’s tough on the farm team when the parents’ adoption policies follow the playbook of Angelina Jolie.
