Rochester ace out, Herd in control

ROCHESTER -- IL Pitcher of the Year Kevin Slowey was pulled after four innings tonight and the Buffalo Bisons erupted for three runs in the top of the fifth off reliever Tim Leahy. The Rochester Red Wings came back with two in the bottom of the inning and the Herd leads, 7-3, after five.

Buffalo touched Slowey for four runs over four innings before he was lifted due to a 75-pitch limit. That's because he's going to start Tuesday for the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome against the Cleveland Indians.

Buffalo's Jason Stanford got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth by getting Luis Rodriguez on an infield popup for the final out. The Herd rewarded Stanford with three runs in the fifth, two on Yamid Haad's single and the other on Keith Ginter's sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the fifth, Stanford was charged with interference on a botched rundown, allowing a run to score, but was saved when Haad made a diving catch of a foul pop up and fired to third to nail Darnell McDonald for a spectacular double play.

Stanford threw 95 pitches in five innings and has been relieved by Scott Elarton. He managed just three strikeouts and is thus one shy of equaling Rick Reed's franchise career record of 290. Maybe he gets a chance to pitch an inning or two in relief in Monday's finale.

---Mike Harrington