Mallex Smith just joined the Bisons a week ago and has played in four games since. He broke out today going 3-4 with a double and a home run out of the ninth spot in the order. It helped the Bisons to an 8-5 win. The Bisons jumped out to a 3-0 lead, lost it and trailed 4-3 before rallying for the win.

In another game that captured the hearts and minds of the Blue Jays faithful, the Buffalo Bisons began their final series of 2021 on a winning note Wednesday to cap off an organizational sweep.

Was our faith tested? Perhaps.

For the third time this week the Bisons walked off Lehigh Valley. On Sunday it was Christian Colon who hit a ground rule double with the bases loaded in the tenth inning to win the game. Lehigh decided to intentionally walk Kevin Smith in the tenth to setup the double play. But Gregory Polanco also walked to set the stage for Colon.

Buffalo trailed 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh. In that inning Otto Lopez doubled in a pair of runs to make it a one run game. Then in the bottom of the eighth Rodrigo Vigil doubled in the tying run.

I had mentioned previously that Gregory Polanco was rounding into form after a slow start. Well, he rounded into two home runs on Friday including a walk off three run home run for the win. In total he drove in five runs. The other two runs came via a two run sacrifice fly. It came when Cavan Biggio hit a ball to deep centre field. Micky Moniak, playing centre for Lehigh Valley caught the ball going backwards and ran into the wall. Mallex Smith strolled home from third but Forrest Wall motored home from second and just beat the relay throw that was slightly off line.

The Bisons went to the bottom of the ninth trailing 4-2 in the second playoff game. They scored two in the ninth to tie the game and then loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth with a walk, a hit batter and the designated runner. Cullen Large struck out but Gregory Polanco singled in the winning run.

The Buffalo Bisons final stretch began on a losing note.

We know we have not been forsaken.

We need you still, mighty Jobu. For we must venture into a dark and dreary place, a house that has been the setting of so much grief, so much misery.

Four wins out of four for the affiliates. For each team except Buffalo, the season ended today. It's always good to end on a winning note. Being the last day for three teams, and with two off days looming for Buffalo, managers used lots of pitchers. Fewer hitters were used as rosters are tight due to COVID issues in New Hampshire.

Just like Friday, New Hampshire were the only winners. Vancouver's game was rained out and will not be made up as tomorrow is the last day of the season. The FCL Jays finished their season with a loss. The minor league season will end with two of the system's best hitters, Jordan Groshans and Orelvis Martinez, on the IL.

Buffalo lost again. New Hampshire won for the first time since August 31st. Vancouver, Dunedin and the FCL Jays lost. The Jays have promoted players over the last few days, mainly in response to New Hampshire's COVID outbreak. Several of those players have played well at the higher levels.

How are we to express our gratitude? We owe so much.

It is the last week of the season for everyone but Buffalo. It is the last week of the regular season for Buffalo and, despite losing, they clinched the division title last night. While all teams below Buffalo finish their seasons at the end of this week, Buffalo will continue playing in a ten game mini series which takes the place of the normal playoffs. This mini series keeps the AAA team playing to provide reinforcements to the major leagues, if necessary. On the field, Buffalo, New Hampshire and Dunedin all outhit their opponents and they all lost. Vancouver lost in the regular way. The FCL Jays won with Damiano Palmegiani driving in six runs. On the bright side, the system did have some good pitching performances.