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"Bowden Francis Guides Bisons to Setting Modern-Era Strikeout Record"
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    “Bowden Francis Guides Bisons to Setting Modern-Era Strikeout Record”

    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.

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    In a historic game against the rival Tigers, Bowden Francis of the Buffalo Bisons led his team to set a modern-era strikeout record. The young pitcher showcased his impressive skills on the mound, striking out a total of 15 batters in just seven innings of work.

    Francis, who was drafted by the Bisons in the third round of the MLB draft, has quickly made a name for himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the league. His performance in this game only solidified his reputation as a dominant force on the mound.

    Throughout the game, Francis displayed excellent command of his pitches, mixing in a devastating fastball with a sharp breaking ball that kept hitters off balance. His ability to locate his pitches with precision and consistency allowed him to rack up strikeouts at an impressive rate.

    Not only did Francis set a new modern-era strikeout record for the Bisons, but he also helped lead his team to a decisive victory over their rivals. His performance was a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft, as well as his natural talent and skill as a pitcher.

    As Francis continues to develop and hone his skills, there is no doubt that he will be a player to watch in the future. His ability to dominate hitters and set records on the mound is a clear indication of his potential to become a star in the league.

    Overall, Bowden Francis’ performance in this game was nothing short of remarkable. His record-setting strikeout performance not only solidified his status as a top pitching prospect but also helped lead his team to victory. Fans of the Bisons can look forward to watching Francis continue to dazzle on the mound in future games.