Buffalo Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME:

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons take on the Rochester Red Wings in the first game of a two-game set at Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a 2-1 series loss in Rochester, as the Bisons lost the series finale 5-4 yesterday. Buffalo went 3-6 on their season-long nine-game roadtrip. The Bisons begin their final homestand of the 2009 season tonight, in which they host Rochester and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for two games a piece.

vs. THE WINGS:

The Bisons are 5-9 against the Red Wings this season. The teams will face each other the next two days to close out their season series. The Herd has an overall .548 (103-85) winning percentage and a .564 (53-41) percentage at home against Rochester since returning to the I.L. in 1998.

ROLLING STONE:

RHP Tobi Stoner gets the start on the mound for the Bisons in tonight’s game. The righty has won his last two decisions and has posted a 1.50ERA in his last three starts. In his last outing, Stoner allowed just one run on three hits in six innings in a no-decision on Wednesday in Pawtucket. In the three-game span, he has allowed just 14 hits while striking out 14 in 18.0 innings of work.

HIT MACHINE:

The International League hit competition continues to be a two-man race. Neither OF Jesus Feliciano or Gwinnett’s INF Barbaro Canizares registered a hit yesterday. That means Canizares kept his one-hit lead, 141-140. Feliciano’s nine-game hit streak came to an end yesterday, during which he averaged .389 (14-36).

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK:

OF Chip Ambres had a solid day at the plate in yesterday’s game. The veteran went 2-5 with a run and an RBI. Ambres has been clutch for the Herd with runners in scoring position all season long, going 22-70 (.314) with two home runs and 28RBI. The outfielder currently leads the Bisons with a four-game hit streak. In this span he has a .353 average (6-17) with two runs, two doubles and three RBI.

BISONS BITS:

INF Javier Castillo had his fourth three-hit game and fifth two RBI game of the season in yesterday’s game...The Bisons have just nine games left this season. Buffalo has a doubleheader on September 4 in Lehigh Valley.