BUFFALO — By any barometer, the Buffalo Bisons weathered Opening Day — lightning on the mound, thunder at the plate, sunshine in the stands, sleet in the ninth and, finally, a forecast of finer days ahead.
“There’s more to come” pledged new manager Wally Backman after the Herd blew away the exiled Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 12-3.
“This team can play like this on a consistent basis.”
Jeurys Familia survived one-fault pitching, Zach Lutz hit two home runs, Josh Satin scored from second base on a sacrifice fly and the Bisons put up a seven-run third, enough to win any game they’ve played this year.
“Welcome to Buffalo,” Backman said to himself while brushing away the sleet of a storm that threatened a dreaded rain delay before a crowd announced at 10,905.
It was the Bisons’ highest-scoring home opener ever.
But the Yanks, temporarily based in Rochester this year, led 3-2 lead after Dewayne Wise’s homer following two walks in the third. “We pitched him backwards,” Backman said of his 22-year-old starter. “I’ve played against that guy for years and know you can’t throw him that pitch.”
But Familia tightened and Backman allowed him 99 pitches, five innings, enough for a 2-0 record. “That kid’s got lightning in his arm,” the skipper said. After Wise’s wallop, Herd hurlers allowed just two more hits, one a wind-blown popup, the other a two-out, ninth-inning double through slush.
Lutz put the Bisons on the board with a homer in the second, then unloaded a monster shot in the fourth, one of three two-run homers by the Herd in that frame. “He’s got thunder in his bat,” Backman said.
“I don’t think I ever hit a ball that far in my life,” said Lutz. An Oak Street pedestrian picked it up and waved it to him from 400 feet away.
Jordy Valdespin also entered Bison legend with a shot to right in the second, clearing the party deck, earning him a painted circle in the employee parking lot. Popular Val Pascucci also homered in the third, his fourth of the year and an inspiration to younger Bisons.
“We try to take our pace from him,” Lutz said.
All Bisons save Bobby Sales hit safely and he walked twice. Substituting in the late innings, Raul Reyes made three outstanding catches in center field.
The opening home stand continues at 1 p.m. today with Chris Schwinden (1-0] scheduled to start for the Bisons, now a game over .500.
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