Some notes collected during the Bisons' bizarre 5-4 win over Durham Tuesday night:
---The crowd of 15,930 was the largest of the season but certainly the smallest ever on BPO Night. Afternoon rains hurt walkup but how many walkups really come on this night? Tickets are more expensive and most folks think it's a sellout anyway. Plus, I'm figuring lots of folks have spent on next week's Triple-A All-Star festivities. Interesting after next week to take a fuller look at the team's attendance. Seems like some anti-Mets backlash.
---The Bisons were 30-2 when leading after seven innings, including 17-1 at home, but looked like they were about to lose until first base umpire Toby Basner's safe call at first base allowed Raul Reyes to beat out an infield chopper and drive home the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. After the 49-minute rain delay, it took just two pitches for Jordany Valdespin's winning hit to allow them to snap an 0-36 run when trailing after eight innings, including 0-18 at home.
Crazy fun celebration as Valdespin wasn't caught by his teammates until he was all the way in left field. Check it out.
WEDNESDAY NOON UPDATE: Valdespin is gone again, back to the Mets because Kirk Nieuwenhuis has been put on the disabled list.
---The Bisons were one strike away from finishing 0-8 against Durham, which would have been a first in their modern era. It would have been the Bulls' first 8-0 against an opponent too.
---The Bisons spend the next five days in Syracuse, playing three games against the Chiefs and two against displaced Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Ace Matt Harvey goes against nine-game winner and ex-big-leaguer Zach Duke Wednesday night. The Bisons are 9-1 on Wednesdays this year, for what that's worth. That means they're 33-43 on all other days.
---Another terrific BPO post-game show. Major props to the Bisons for honoring The News' own Allen Wilson in their video tribute for those who have passed on in the last year. The crowd gave it up as always to the military personnel and the team's Olympic celebration included a thunderous ovation to the onfield introduction of pole vaulter Jenn Suhr. Another great touch.
---Be sure to check out Monday's editions of The News for a 16-page preview of the Triple-A All-Star Game festivities. And keep your eyes both in print and online for full coverage all next week.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
