Buffalo Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (29-21, 3rd(-1.0), North) vs. Syracuse Chiefs (29-20, 2nd(-0.5), North)


Monday, May 31, 2010 (2:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

LHP Jonathon Niese (NR) vs. RHP Jeff Mandel (2-0, 1.56)

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



TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Syracuse Chiefs in the first game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (2:05 p.m.). The Bisons are coming off a split of a four-game series with Toledo to begin this homestand. The Bisons are now 10-6 in a 20-game stretch from May 14 - June 3 that includes 16 of 20 games at Coca-Cola Field.

THRUWAY CUP: The Chiefs already have a stranglehold on the 2010 Thruway Series. Syracuse (9-1) swept the Herd (1-3) in a two-game set April 12-13 from Alliance Bank Stadium. The Chiefs then rattled off seven wins in eight games against Rochester (2-8). Dating back to last season, Buffalo is just 4-14 in their last 18 games against Syracuse.

NIESE TO SEE YOU: LHP JON NIESE will make an injury rehab start for the Bisons today. Niese was placed on the Mets’ disabled list on May 17 with a right hamstring strain. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 4.79ERA in eight starts with New York. The Bisons 2009 Opening Day Starter, Niese was 5-6 with a 3.82ERA in 16 starts with Buffalo last year. He led the IL with two complete games.

FIVE FOR HITTING: OF JESUS FELICIANO was a perfect 5-5 in yesterday’s loss. It was Buffalo’s first five-hit game since INF JOE INGLETT went 5-6 against Syracuse on August 25, 2005. Feliciano was an incredible 13-19 (.684) in the four-game series against Toledo and now leads the IL in average (.403) by 76 points. He also tops all IL hitters with 64 hits and a .448 on-base percentage. He trails only Albuquerque’s INF JOHN LINDSEY (.429) for the highest batting average in all of baseball. Feliciano has hit .477 (41-86) at home this year.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (26-25) blew out the Brewers 10-4 yesterday. New York pounded out 16 hits, including four from OF JEFF FRANCOEUR. Former Bisons OF ANGEL PAGAN hit his fourth homer of the year. Another former Bison, RHP R.A. DICKEY improved to 2-0 in three starts by allowing four runs in seven innings of work. The Mets are in San Diego to take on the Padres at 10:05 p.m. tonight.