Valdespin's infield single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning capped an improbable 5-4 Buffalo victory in front of 15,930 on Independence Eve Celebration at Coca-Cola Field. Once Valdespin was ruled safe at first base with the winning hit, his teammates chased him all the way into left field before commencing with the post-game celebration.
Consider this. The Bisons were 0-36 this season when trailing after eight innings. That's exactly where the club found themselves after the Bulls rallied from three runs down to take a 4-3 lead into the final frame.
But Valentino Pascucci got the comeback started with a lead-off walk and pinch runner Corey Wimberly kept the rally alive when his take-out slide broke up a potential game-ending doubleplay off the bat of Matt Tuiasosopo.
Tuiasosopo advanced to second base on Shawn O'Malley's throwing error caused by Wimberly's slide and then took third on a wild pitch. O'Malley then lost his footing and threw late to first base on a grounder from Raul Reyes. That allowed Tuiasosopo to score and tie the game at four.
The rally continued with a single from Rob Johnson before Mother Nature threw her own twist unto the night's festivities. A driving rain caused a wild pitch from Brandon Gomes, advancing Reyes to third base. The pitch was clearly caused by the lack of a good grip and the umpires were forced to bring out the tarp for a 49-minute rain delay.
When play resumed, Valdespin was facing a 1-2 pitch and a new reliever in Frank De Los Santos. The Herd infielder chopped the second pitch post-delay past the mound for the game-winning single. Realizing he had just helped the Herd to their first win over Durham in 2008, Valdespin continued running until his Bisons teammates caught up with him in left field to celebrate.
In a word, wow!
Despite all that happened at the end of the game, Collin McHugh's effort on the mound for Buffalo should not be overlooked. The Triple-A rookie struck out 10 in 6.1 innings of work. He left with a 3-0 Bisons lead before the Bulls scored two runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Herd scored their runs with solo tallies in the third, fifth and sixth innings. Valdespin opened the game's scoring with an impressive solo home run in the third that cleared the tent in centerfield.
BISONS NOTES: The game was delayed by 25 minutes at the start because of a quick shower during pre-game...Prior to the night's festivities, Bisons All-Star Valentino Pascucci was named one of the six players who will compete in the 2012 All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday, July 9 at Coca-Cola Field...Bisons manager Wally Backman confirmed that outfielder Adam Loewen will be promoted from Single-A St. Lucie. He missed 61 games on the Bisons disabled list this year.
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