Bisons Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME:

This evening, the Buffalo Bisons face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the second game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd leads the series 1-0 following yesterday’s 8-7 slugfest. 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.

OLLIE JOINS HERD:

LHP Oliver Perez is scheduled to begin his major league rehab assignment with the Bisons tonight. The southpaw is slated to throw 90 pitches. The Mets placed Perez 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.

HEAVY HITTERS:

The Herd racked up a season-high 15 hits in yesterday’s win. Six of them came in a five-run 4th inning that helped the Bisons erase an early 4-0 deficit. Ten different Bisons collected hits yesterday, including a hit each from pitcher Dillon Gee and Brandon Knight. Six different players drove in runs, with OF Fernando Martinez knocking in two with his team-leading eighth home run of the season.

F-MART:

OF Fernando Martinez extended his hit streak to Bisons-season high seven-games yesterday. He has averaged .366 (11-30) with three doubles, four home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored since Monday, May 18. Martinez is now 1st in the International League with 25 extra-base hits.

THE REY TO GO:

INF Argenis Reyes enters tonight’s game on a pair of impressive streaks. He has hit in six straight games and has collected an RBI in his last five. Since May 19, Reyes has averaged .333 (8-24) with two runs scored and five RBI. Monday, Reyes also collected his team-best seventh stolen base.

SECRET VALENTIN:

INF Javier Valentin has driven in nine runs in only 11 games (10 starts) with the Bisons. The veteran was 2-5 with another RBI yesterday. Valentin has also reached base in seven straight, hitting .375 (9-24) with a double, two home runs, four runs scored, seven RBI and six walks.