Oneonta native Mike Connolly is back with the Indianapolis Indians, but his first start this season for the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates ended in defeat.

Lefty Connolly, promoted from the Double-A Altoona Curve on Tuesday, allowed six earned runs and nine hits in the first four innings of the Indians’ 8-2 International League loss to the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday.

Indianapolis staked Connolly a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but fell behind, 3-2, in the second.

Connolly opened with a 1-2-3 first inning, then allowed a leadoff home run to Kelly Shoppach in the second. Connolly also yielded an RBI double to Jason Cooper and a run-scoring single to Jason Alfaro in the second.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]Buffalo struck for five singles off Connolly in a three-run fourth as well. Connolly threw 66 pitches — 44 for strikes — and faced 21 batters before Marty McLeary relieved him at the start of the fifth inning. Connolly’s ERA is 13.50.

Connolly made his Triple-A debut June 30, 2005, when he got a no-decision in a 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Lynx. Connolly went six innings in that game, leaving a 4-4 tie with two strikeouts and three walks. Connolly also gave up a home run in his first Triple-A appearance — a two-run shot to Walter Young in the sixth.

Connolly, 24, opened his last four minor league seasons in Altoona. He started 13 games for Indianapolis in 2005, finishing 2-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 71 innings. Connolly struck out 44, walked 29 and allowed nine homers at the Triple-A level last season.

Connolly’s 2006 promotion came less than a month after he earned Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors for the Curve on May 28. Before moving up, he was 6-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 14 starts for Altoona, striking out 56 and walking 33 in 70 2/3 innings. Connolly is the Curve’s all-time leader in career victories (26) and career starts (73).

The Daily Star named 2000 Oneonta High graduate Connolly its baseball Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000. The Pirates made him a 19th-round draft pick in 2000.