Bison Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME:

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons face the Durham Bulls in the third game of a four-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (5:05 p.m.). The series is tied at a game apiece after the Herd won 9-3 on Friday night and Durham collected a 10-2 victory yesterday. After this series, the Bisons will travel to Norfolk for a four-game series against the Tides, June 2-5.

UP IN ARMS:

The Bisons pitching staff got a boost today as two new arms have joined the team. RHP Lance Broadway was acquired by the Mets in a trade after going 0-1 with a 5.65ERA with the Chicago White Sox this year. LHP Adam Bostick has been promoted from Binghamton (AA). He was 3-0 with a 2.60ERA in 11 relief outings with the B-Mets (17.1IP, 16H, 20K).

HOMER HAPPY:

C Rene Rivera has punctuated his recent hot streak with home runs in back-to-back games. Rivera has now hit in six straight games, averaging .333 (8-24) with five runs, five doubles, two home runs and three RBI. The six-game stretch has raised Rivera’s average 88 points to .231. CRAZY 8s: Two of the hottest bats in the Bisons lineup belong to OF Cory Sullivan and INF Javier Valentin. Both veterans are coming into tonight’s game on eight-game hit streaks. Sullivan has hit .452 (14-31) during his stretch to raise his average 57 points since May 21. He has scored five runs with three doubles and four walks during his streak. Valentin has hit .333 (10-30) during his streak with three doubles, a home run and four RBI. He has hit in 13 of his 15 starts since joining the Bisons on May 14.

THE WRONG REY:

Just prior to yesterday’s game, the Bisons lost INF Argenis Reyes to the disabled list with a groin contusion. Reyes has been one of Buffalo’s most consistent hitters and goes on the DL on a nine-game hit streak. Reyes has reached base in 11 straight and leads the Bisons with a .380 on-base pct.

UNHAPPY LIST: The Bisons now have seven players on the disabled list: RHP Dillon Gee, INF Andy Green, INF Mark Kiger, OF Bobby Kielty, RHP Carlos Muniz, C Mike Nickeas and INF Argenis Reyes. On the year, the Bisons have already lost 133 man-games to injury.

MEET THE METS:

The first two hits in the career of OF Fernando Martinez was enough to help the Mets (27-21) as New York fell to Florida yesterday, 7-3. The former Bison singled for his first big league hit in the 3rd inning then collected an RBI-double in the 5th inning. Tim Redding allowed seven runs in four innings of work in defeat. Same two teams will play the rubber game of their series today.

Brad A. BisbingDirector, Public RelationsBuffalo BisonsCoca-Cola FieldOne James D. Griffin PlazaBuffalo, NY 14203(716) 846-2019bbisbing@bisons.com