Minor Matters: Veterans Lead Bisons

Buffalo's veteran-laden roster scored two runs in the 10th inning Monday for a 6-4 road win over the Richmond Braves. The Triple-A Bisons are off to a 3-2 start. In Double-A, the Akron Aeros got fine pitching but managed only four hits in a 4-0 loss at Binghamton. Akron is 1-3 on the season. In Class A, Kinston still hasn't opened its season because of a several rainouts, while Lake County is 3-1.

At Richmond, first baseman Andy Gonzalez (.571) went 3-for-4 and singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th. Catcher Wyatt Toregas (.143) went 2-for-5 with two RBI while center-fielder Jason Tyner (.154) and shortstop Danny Sandoval (.154) had Buffalo's other hits.

Starter Brian Slocum (5.79 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over 4 2-3 innings, striking out three. Right-hander Scott Elarton (1.69 ERA) then worked 2 1-3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, fanning two.

Left-hander Reid Santos (1-0, 6.00 ERA) gave up an eighth-inning run that tied the score and got a blown save. He gave up three hits and one run over two innings and got the win when the Bisons rallied. Rick Bauer (0.00 ERA) allowed a hit and got a strikeout in working the bottom of the 12th for his first save.

Akron lefty Ryan Edell (0.00 ERA) yielded five hits over six scoreless innings, fanning three without a walk. T.J. Burton (0-2, 12.00 ERA) took the loss when he gave up a run on two hits and walk in 1 1-3 innings before Jeff Stevens (0.00 ERA) fanned one over the final 2-3 of an inning.

Matt Whitney (.333) had two of the Aeros' four singles. Michael Aubrey (.294) and Nate Panther (.400) got the other hits.

On Sunday, Aeros catcher Armando Camacaro celebrated his 29th birthday with a career-high seven RBI in a 13-11 win at Harrisburg.

The minor-league veteran went 3-for-5 with two homers, including a seventh-inning grand slam. He nearly hit another grand slam in the eighth, flying out to the warning track in centerfield with the bases loaded.

Panther reached base three times and scored three runs, while second baseman Chris de la Cruz had two hits and three RBI in his first start of the season. Together the bottom three hitters in Akron's order went 6-for-13 with a sacrifice, walk, double, three homers, seven runs, and 11 RBI.

Camacaro, a catcher who signed with the Indians as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 1999, is known for his defense rather than offense. He did have a big game a year ago for Class A Kinston, hitting three homers and driving in six runs in a win over Wilmington on July 26.