Bisons Notes 4/28/10 - Durham at Buffalo (6:05 p.m.)

From Press Release:

Buffalo Bisons (11-8, 2nd(-1.0), North) vs. Durham Bulls (14-6, 1st(+5.0), South)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 (6:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP Tobi Stoner (0-2, 5.65) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 2.38)

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13 Radio: WWKB AM 1520, http://www.bisons.com/

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons host the Durham Bulls in the second game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (6:05 p.m.). The Herd struck first in the set with a 9-5 victory over the Bulls last night. This series is part of an eight-game homestand as the Bisons will host Louisville, May 1-4. Buffalo is 5-2 in their first seven games at Coca-Cola Field this season.

vs. THE BULLS: This series will be Durham’s only trip to Coca-Cola Field in 2010. Last year, the Bisons won three of four from the Bulls in Buffalo and split the season series, 4-4. The Bisons haven’t lost a season series to the Bulls since 1999, with five season-series wins over Durham and five splits.

HOMERING HESS: INF MIKE HESSMAN launched a pair of home runs and drove in four in last night’s win. It was Buffalo’s first two-homer game since OF JASON DUBOIS hit two on September 2, 2009 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hessman is now 2nd in the International League with six home runs, tied for 2nd with 18RBI and 5th with a .636 slugging percentage. His 317 career minor league home runs are 25 more than any other active player. Of his six home runs this season, four have been for more than one run.

HIT MACHINE: OF JESUS FELICIANO has found his grove with regular at-bats in the Bisons’ lineup. The Herd’s 2009 MVP had two more his last night and his .370 batting average on the season is the 7th-best in the International League. Last season, Feliciano led the IL with 154 base hits. The outfielder comes into tonight’s game on a six-game hit streak where he has averaged .440 (11-25) with a home run, five RBI and nine runs scored.

ALSO STREAKIN: Not to be outdone, OF JASON PRIDIE also has a six-game hit streak. The outfielder is 11 for his last 27 for a .407 batting average. Pridie leads the club with 25 hits and six stolen bases on the season. The Herd’s leadoff batter has also gotten a hit to lead off the first inning in eight of the last 12 games for Buffalo.

BISON BITS: In the last eight games, the Bisons offense has scored 51 runs or 6.4 runs/game...INF RUBEN TEJADA leads all International League shortstops with a .986 fielding percentage (1E, 71TC).

METS UPDATE: The red-hot Mets (12-9) swept a doubleheader from the Dodgers last night, 4-0 and 10-5. New York has won six straight and eight of nine to capture sole possession of first place in the National League East. New York’s 10 wins at Citi Field are more home victories than any other club in the majors. The Mets look for their second three-game sweep as the host the Dodgers this afternoon at 1:10 p.m.