Buffalo Bisons Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME:

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons take on the Syracuse Chiefs in the first game of a two-game series from Alliance Bank Stadium (7:00 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a 5-4 homestand that ended with three consecutive wins. Buffalo has now won eight of their last 12 games. After tomorrow night’s contest, both teams will travel to Coca-Cola Field for back-to-back doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday.

vs. THE CHIEFS:

The Bisons are 2-8 against Syracuse this year. The Chiefs won the first eight match-ups, including sweeps at Alliance Bank Stadium (3G, April 17-19) and in Buffalo (4G, April 24-27). However, the Bisons have won the last two contests against their Thruway rival to take a three-game in two-day series at Syracuse from June 15-16.

NOT SO PETTY:

LHP Adam Pettyjohn makes his fifth start as a Bison tonight. The southpaw is 2-2 with a 4.09ERA in 22.0 innings of work. In his last road game, Pettyjohn threw eight shutout innings to defeat the Clippers in Columbus on August 8. Earlier this year, Pettyjohn faced the Chiefs while still with Louisville. On May 21, he allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings, but fell in defeat (no walks, four strikeouts).

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK:

OF Chip Ambres’ hit streak has now reached nine games. The veteran had two singles last night and has now averaged .429 (15-35) since August 9. During the streak, Ambres has six doubles, a home run, nine RBI and nine runs scored.

BIG INNING:

The Bisons’ eight-run 8th inning last night was their most prolific inning of the season. The last time the Herd scored eight in a frame was August 15, 2008 in a 14-7 win over Rochester. Eight different batters scored a run in the 8th last night, OF Chip Ambres had two singles and C Rene Rivera had two run-producing at-bats: a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly.

ROSTER MOVE:

INF Luis Rivera rejoins the Bisons after a brief stint at St. Lucie (A)(7G, 2-20). Rivera hit .313 (25-80) in 27 games with the Herd from June 3 to July 19. The Bisons had a roster spot open after the Mets selected the contract of INF Andy Green after Sunday’s game.