International League Pitcher of the Week: FIGGY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2009

Bisons RHP Nelson Figueroa Named International League Pitcher of the Week

Figueroa was 1-0 with a 1.98ERA in 2 Starts The International League announced today that Buffalo Bisons RHP Nelson Figueroa was the league’s Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 8-14.Figueroa struck out 16 batters in just 13.2 innings of work in his two starts last week. He earned his second win of the season during the Bisons School Kids Day on Monday, May 8 by allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings of work in Buffalo’s 2-1 win over Indianapolis. On Saturday, Figueroa fanned a season-high nine batters in a gutsy 126-pitch performance against the Durham Bulls. He ended up with a no-decision in the game despite allowing just two runs in 6.2 innings of work.For the week, Figueroa allowed just three runs on 12 hits and four walks in 13.2 innings pitched. The week lowered Figueroa’s era to 2.90 – 12th best in the International League. Despite a 2-4 record this season, he leads the Bisons staff in quality starts (7) having allowed more that two runs in only eight of his 10 starts.At 35, Figueroa is the oldest player to win an IL weekly award since Norfolk’s Mike DiFelice did so on May 2, 2005 just weeks before his 36th birthday.