Even without Joey Votto in the lineup, the Buffalo Bisons were must-see TV on Friday night.
Led by Bowden Francis, Bisons pitchers racked up a franchise modern-era record 19 strikeouts in a 1-0 extra-innings win over the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Francis, making his first start since returning to the Toronto Blue Jays‘ affiliate, worked 4.0 hitless innings, punching out eight of the 13 hitters he faced. The right-hander threw 58 total pitches and pounded the zone, throwing 44 strikes.
The 28-year-old has struggled this year in the majors with the Blue Jays, but dominated on Friday behind his fastball. Francis threw his heater 36 times, generating 11 whiffs on the pitch and only allowing three balls in play on the offering.
He was followed by Nick Fraze, who struck out five over 2.0 scoreless innings of his own.
Yerry Rodriguez and Brandon Eisert both finished with two strikeouts each, covering the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
Then, it was Paxton Schultz marking down Friday’s pitching effort in history, as the 26-year-old struck out back-to-back hitters to close out the top of the tenth, helping the Bisons to the 19-strikeout mark on the night.
Schultz also ended up taking the win after Riley Tirotta came across to score the winning run on a walk-off wild pitch.
Buffalo pitchers feasted on a RailRiders lineup that features some notable names with major-league experience, including Jeter Downs, Taylor Trammell, Oscar Gonzalez and former Blue Jays prospect Kevin Smith.
Eight of the nine RailRiders struck out at least once, and the New York Yankees’ affiliate had two players leave the field wearing a golden sombrero, as leadoff hitter Brandon Lockridge and No. 9 hitter Josh VanMeter both punched out four times on the night.
Buffalo and Scranton Wilkes-Barre will close out their series over the weekend with two more games. James Kaprielian is expected to have the ball on Saturday for the Bisons.