Series Split

So, How about Billy Hamilton? He's fucking exciting.

I'm gonna go through the series, but I am probably going to be drooling over Billy Hamilton, while thinking of the next glowing thing I'm going to be saying about Billy Hamilton.

Game 1: Jim Negrych starts off the bottom of the 1st with a shot over the RF fence to give the Herd the lead, and prompt some more #FREEJIMNEGRYCH. Armando Gallaraga (Bats SP) left game after taking a liner from Jimenez 3 batters later.

Top of the 3rd, Billy Hamilton slashes a single to drive in a run. Steals 2B. Scores on grounder.

Yohan Pino (on in relief for Gallaraga) dominated the Bisons on route to a 4-1 win. 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R. Billy Hamilton went 1-5 with his RBI single, stole a base, and struck out 3 times.

Besides the HR from Negrych, the offensive stand-outs were multi-hit getters Anthony Gose (2-4) and Ryan Goins (2-3).

Game 2: Josh Thole homered in the bottom of the 2nd to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 5th, Billy Hamilton was caught trying to steal 3rd (#FREEJOSHTHOLE) to end the inning. In the home half, Thole drove in Moises Sierra on a single.

In the 6th, veteran Mike Hessman smacked a solo HR to tie things up at 2. In the 8th, Alex Hinshaw was wild. Very wild. 2 Wild pitches, with the 2nd scoring a run to give the Bats a 3-2 lead. The Herd tied it up in the 8th with an Andy LaRoche single, then with bases loaded after in intentional walk, Bats reliever stuck out the side to escape damage.

In the 9th, Billy Hamilton was walked (uh-oh) and proceeded to steal 2B (of course), but didn't come around to score. Fast forward to the bottom of the 11th, Andy LaRoche doubles home Mauro Gomez for the game winner.

Billy Hamilton was 0-5, with a RBI ground out, a walk, and was 1-2 in steals. He struck out twice (a sense a trend).

Multi-hit efforts for the Herd were Luis Jimenez (3-6, 2 2B), Josh Thole (3-4, HR, 2 BB), and Andy LaRoche (3-5, 2B, BB). Edgar Gonzalez started and went 5 strong, giving up just 1 run and striking out 6.

Game 3: Billy Hamilton started off the game with a bunt attempt, but was retired by Batista. In the home half, Ryan Langerhans replaced Moises Sierra, who might be injured. I'll have to check that out.

In the top of the 3rd, the Bats bats came to life. Negron walked, stole 2nd, and scored on an Ashley single. Billy Hamilton singles, then both come home on a Henry Rodriguez HR. 4-0 Bats.

In the 4th, the Bisons started clawing back with back-to-back 2B from LaRoche and Velez. Jim Negrych doubled to CF, scoring 2 more. 4-3 Bats. They complete the comeback with a Langerhans HR in the 5th. A sacrifice fly in the 7th from Gomez gives the Herd the 5-4 lead.

In the 8th, the wheels came off. Error from LaRoche, wild pitch, infield single. Jeremy Jeffress comes on to relieve. Walk, single, 6-5 Bats. Jose Arredondo with the 2 inning save.

Billy Hamilton was 2-5 with another strikeout and a run scored.

Multi-hit efforts for the Herd were from Jim Negrych (3-5, 2 RBI, 2B) and Andy LaRoche (2-4, 2B).

Game 4: The Bisons manufactured some runs in the 1st. McCoy HBP, Gose single, both advance on passed ball. Negrych sac fly and Jimenez ground out make is 2-0 Bisons.

In the 4th, Felix Perez cut the lead in half with a line drive HR into the bullpen. 2-1 Herd. In the bottom half, the Bats allowed Langerhans to reach via error, then throw it around again leading to a Bisons run. Velez follows with a single to make it 4-1.

Mike Hessman homers in the 6th to make it 4-2 Bisons. Andy LaRoche homers to LF in the home half to make it 7-2 Bisons. It would end 8-2.

3 errors and 2 passed balls from the Bats made this one look ugly. Billy Hamilton was 0-4 with no strikeouts. He finished 3-19 with a walk and 6 strikeouts.

Multi-hit games from Anthony Gose (2-5), Jim Negrych (2-4), and Eugenio Velez (2-4). Ramon Ortiz started and went 8 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits (2 HR).

Series stars were:

3rd Star: Ryan Goins. 5-8, 4 BB.

2nd Star: Andy LaRoche. 6-12, 2 BB, 2 2B, 2 RBI.

1st Star: Jim Negrych. 7-18, 1 BB, HR, 2B, 5 RBI.