Bisons: Game Notes - Niese-Nelly Night

TODAY’S GAME:

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Toledo Mud Hens in a doubleheader from Coca-Cola Field (Game 1: 5:35 p.m.). The teams will play two tonight after rain forced a postponement on Friday. Toledo won the opening game of this four-game set on Thursday night, 6-2. After tomorrow’s series finale, the Bisons will have an eight-game roadtrip to Louisville and Indy. vs.

THE HENS:

The Bisons are 0-1 against Toledo this year, having only played on Thursday night against the IL West opponent. Buffalo won the season-series a year ago, 5-3, thanks to a series win at Fifth Third Field. The Bisons have not lost a set to the Mud Hens at Coca-Cola Field since the 2003 season (one win and four splits).

NIESE-LY DONE:

LHP Jonathon Niese looks to continue his hot streak as he takes the mound tonight for his 16th start of the season. The southpaw is a perfect 4-0 in his last five starts. In this stretch, Niese has an astonishing 0.83ERA, with only 10 walks to 40 strikeouts. He has only allowed four earned runs over his last 43.1 innings pitched. This season, the pitcher has a Bisons-leading 80 strikeouts to only 24 walks.

OH NELLY:

IL All-Star RHP Nelson Figueroa has been one of the league’s most consistent pitchers. His 2.50ERA is tied for the 4th lowest in the IL. The veteran has allowed more than two runs in just two of his 14 starts and more than three runs only once. He has won five decisions in a row and has a 1.64ERA in seven starts since the beginning of June. On Wednesday night, Figueroa pitched a scoreless 8th inning with two strikeouts in the IL’s 6-5 win over the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star Game.

MR. DEPENDABLE:

OF Jesus Feliciano has been the most consistent hitter for the Herd all season. The outfielder continued to swing a hot bat with three hits in Thursday night’s game. Feliciano currently has an eight-game hitting streak in which he has batted 12-31 with a .387 average. The Bison slugger currently leads the team in batting average (.308), RBI (34), as well as stolen bases (11). His .308 average is also good for 10th best in the IL.