Bisons Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the first game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (2:05 p.m.). The Bisons are coming off a split of a four-game series against Columbus to begin this eight-game homestand. After Thursday, the Bisons will leave for Durham on their first eight-game roadtrip of the season.

VS. IRONPIGS: The Bisons are 1-2 against Lehigh Valley this year, having lost a rain-shortened series in Allentown, PA from May 4-7. Last season, the teams split their 16-game series, with Buffalo winning five of the eight games played at Coca-Cola Field.

GOSH GOLLY GEE: RHP Dillon Gee is back on the mound today, having his most recent start pushed back a couple days because of an illness. Gee last pitched on May 17 in Pawtucket and threw 6.1 shutout innings in a no-decision. In his last two starts, Gee has allowed just one run on six hits in 13.1 innings of work. In those two starts, Gee has struck out a combined 15 batters, including a season-high eight against the Red Sox.

SECRET VALENTIN: C/INF Javier Valentin snapped a 2-2 tie yesterday with yet another RBI-single. The veteran has reached safely in eight of his first 10 games as a Bison with seven of his 10 hits driving in runs. Overall, Valentin has hit .333 (10-30) with three home runs and eight RBI. He has hit .444 (4-9) with runners in scoring position.

F-MART: OF Fernando Martinez extended his hit streak to six-games yesterday, matching a Bisons season-high. He has averaged .400 (10-25) with three doubles, three home runs, six RBI and six runs scored since Monday, May 18. Martinez is tied for 1st in the International League with 24 extra-base hits.

OLLIE JOINS HERD: LHP Oliver Perez will start his major league rehab assignment with the Bisons tomorrow. The Mets placed the southpaw on the disabled list on May 6 (retroactive to May 3) with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Perez, who has won 25 games with the Mets over the past two seasons, was 1-2 with a 9.97ERA in five starts with New York this year.