Trey Yesavage Shines But Bisons Drop 5-2 Decision to Clippers

This recap covers the Buffalo Bisons’ 5-2 loss to the Columbus Clippers in the opener of a six-game homestand at Sahlen Field. The night was marked by a tough rehab outing from Blue Jays top prospect Trey Yesavage.

Let’s get into it: pitching missteps, Buffalo’s quiet bats, and what the Bisons need to snap out of it and find some momentum.

Game Essentials: Early Troubles Set the Tone for Buffalo

Buffalo fell behind right away as Columbus jumped out with a two-run first inning. Yesavage struggled with command, starting things off with a walk to Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana.

Then came a misplayed comebacker and a wild throw to first, letting Bazzana score. Clippers catcher Cooper Ingle followed up with a broken-bat single, making it 2-0 and putting Buffalo in a hole.

Yesavage, on a Major League rehab assignment, tried to settle in after that rocky start. He managed a smoother second inning, but the third inning got messy again. Petey Halpin led off with a double, and a series of walks let Columbus pad their lead.

Yesavage left with a line of four runs (two earned) over 2.1 innings. He threw 64 pitches—just 33 for strikes—walking four and striking out two.

Buffalo’s offense didn’t offer much of a spark. They scraped together two runs: Rafael Lantigua scored after reaching on an error, and Josh Kasevich knocked in a run with a double.

William Simoneit chipped in an RBI single in the seventh, but that was about it. The Bisons finished with just four hits and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Looking ahead, Austin Voth is expected to start for Buffalo on Wednesday as they try to even up the series.

Yesavage’s Rehab Start: The Numbers Behind the Loss

Yesavage faced a tough assignment, needing to shake off nerves and find his command. He threw 64 pitches, but only half landed for strikes.

That first inning was rough—walking Bazzana, a fielding error, and a wild throw all piled on. The second inning looked better, just eight pitches and a strikeout of Kody Huff on a slider.

But the third inning unraveled again. A double and back-to-back walks let the Clippers keep scoring. Brendan Celluci came on in relief, but a sacrifice fly from Stuard Fairchild added another run, closing the book on Yesavage’s outing.

Yesavage flashed some good stuff—a sharp slider here, a lively fastball there—but control issues and long at-bats kept Buffalo on its heels. The Clippers pounced on mistakes, using walks and misplays to keep the runs coming.

Offense Struggles: Buffalo’s Limited Run Production

Buffalo’s offense looked flat against a Clippers team that made the most of its chances. Four hits on the night, and just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position—those numbers tell the story.

The two Bisons runs came in the middle and late innings. They never managed the big inning that could’ve forced Columbus into a longer night or shifted the momentum.

Rafael Lantigua scored after reaching on an error, and Josh Kasevich’s double brought in another run. William Simoneit added an RBI single in the seventh. The offense showed a few flashes, but just couldn’t keep it going. That left Buffalo with almost no wiggle room against the Clippers’ pitching staff.

Box-Score Snapshot: What to Watch Going Forward

• Buffalo: Four hits, just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Lantigua and Kasevich managed the only multi-base hits that counted in the scoring frame. Simoneit chipped in with an RBI single in the seventh.
• Columbus: They grabbed an early lead using a mix of patience and Buffalo’s defensive mistakes. Columbus took advantage of walks and clutch hits to tilt the game their way.
• Next up: Wednesday brings a start from Austin Voth as Buffalo looks to even the series and hopefully rediscover their offense at Sahlen Field.

Looking Ahead: Buffalo Aims to Even the Series Behind Austin Voth

Austin Voth gets the ball Wednesday, and the Bisons need to find some steadiness—both on the mound and at the plate. The home crowd’s waiting for someone to step up, especially with Yesavage out of the rotation.

This six-game set might test Buffalo’s grit more than anyone expected. Will they use it as a spark, or will it just slip by? Guess we’ll see soon enough.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Yesavage, Bisons fall to Clippers, 5-2