• Classifieds
  • Search
  • Garage Sales
  • Place Ad In Paper
  • FREE Online Ads
• WNY Blogs
• PLUS! Coupons
• Garage Sales
• Your Photos
  • View Photos
  • Add Your Own Photos
• Your Pet Stories
  • View Pet Stories
  • Add Your Own Pet Stories and Photos
• Sports
  • College Sports
    • Army Black Knights
    • Canisius College
  • Bisons
• Steam
  • View Steam
  • Add Your Steam
• Events
  • Search Events
  • Add Your Event
• Business Directory
• Helpful Links
• WNY Woman

On this day however, the events that laid out before the near 8,000 fans that entered Coca-Cola Field were bizarre and uncharacteristically welcoming.

See, first their opponent were a team that had more recognizable faces for a majority of Bisons fans over the years--the Columbus Clippers were in town for a four game stint, and they were the former Buffalo Bisons. The guys on the Clippers, the new Triple A affiliates of the Cleveland Indians were the same, just like the coaching staff and made these games all the more intriguing.

Secondly, the Mets all-time home run leader was in town, helping to promote his new book, eh, actually helping to promote the new Buffalo Bisons affiliation with the New York Mets. But, this slugger that threw out opening pitch on a clear, sunny day was the Darryl Strawberry--represented by bobble heads and a massive slogan reading “Strawesome,” awesome, right?

Now what else would be something unusual for the Bisons and their fans? Well we know losing is right out of the question...the opposite of that is winning, so, how about going for that? A big W to cap off the day, to inject some sort of buzz in the crowd, other than them saying At least we got a bobble head.

I say forget game recap entirely, and let’s flash forward to the later innings of the game. At this point, the eighth inning, the Bisons are actually winning: they are up 2-1 in the top, Jon Switzer on the mound, one out and former Bisons star Jordan Brown comes to the plate.

This should be noted that Brown has been smoking the ball during his return to Buffalo; racking up eight hits in 14 at bats, making him what some might say on one hell of a nice stretch. “This year I’ve been really trying to keep things simple and eliminate extra thoughts and things that really don’t matter in the long run. This year I just really focused on getting off to a better start. I’m not worried about hitting the ball 450-feet every time I step up to the plate,” Brown commented on his remarkable offensive season thus far.

Now back to the game: Brown steps up to the dish, Switzer delivers a nice fat pitch and with one stroke of the bat, the ball scales higher and higher into the blue sky and carries out over Coca-Cola Field’s right field wall. Fair ball, splash into Heron’s Landing--and with that, ladies and gentleman, the Bisons have lost the led and are now tied with the Clippers 2-2.

But on this day, Darryl Strawberry bobble head day, of all the days that the Bisons play, they just can’t lose! How humiliating would falling to a team they’ve already dropped two games to be? Not all that horrific and unimaginable considering the 2009 season, but how about keeping pace with the day’s events--why not make today entirely remarkable and not just headlined by Darryl Strawberry’s “Strawesome” bobble head give-away day? What’d you say boys? Can you win one for the Gipper?

When the Herd came to bat after the eighth inning ended through the relief pitching of Elmer Dessens, Clippers pitcher Frank Herrmann began the bottom half of the inning by sitting down Fernando Martinez and Wily Mo Pena. With two outs, the unassuming 33-year-old Javier Valentine stepped up to the box.

Here we go, two down bottom of the eighth, I know, it would sound better if I had said “two down, bottom of the ninth,” but I work with what I’ve got and this scenario is pretty nice to write about.

So, with Valentine at the plate, two down for the Bisons, Herrmann delivers for the Clippers. The lefty at the plate turns on the fast ball and drives the pitch deep into the fans just beyond the right field wall. Solo shot, Bisons go up 3-2.

Not bad for a player that just signed with the Mets May 14th, and had no intention of playing baseball this season. Not to shabby Valentin and with his home run, the Herd go on top, with a lead going into the ninth and the possibility of a victory in their hands. So would the Bisons sink the Clippers?

I’ll let manager Ken Oberkfell sum up the final result of the game, “We did battle and they’re a good ball club, they put the ball in play and hit.”

“The guys keep battling and that’s what you want to see, you want to see battling players and we’re in games, we’re competing and it would be nice to reel off a nice winning streak somewhere.”

“I told them (the players) that we never lose on Darryl Strawberry bobble head day.”

Ding, ding, ding--we have a winner!

The Bisons pull one out as closer Elmer Dessens shuts down the Clippers in the top of the ninth, holding on to the one run lead. With the final score being 3-2 the Herd begin what they can only hope for, a lengthy string of victories.