Bisons Notes 6/3/10 - Syracuse at Buffalo (1:05 p.m.)

Buffalo Bisons (30-23, 3rd(-1.5), North) vs. Syracuse Chiefs (31-21, 1st(+0.5), North)

Thursday, June 3 (1:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP Dillon Gee (6-1, 3.92) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 1.27)

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

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons face the Syracuse Chiefs in the finale of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). Trailing 2-1 in the set, the Herd needs a win today to earn a split of the series. Buffalo is 3-4 on an eight-game homestand that ends today. Tomorrow, the Bisons travel to Norfolk for a four-game series with the Tides.

vs. THE CHIEFS: The Bisons are now 1-4 against their Thruway Series rival this season. Syracuse won the first five games of the season series in 2008 and 2009, as well. Dating back to last season, the Herd is just 5-16 in their last 21 against the Chiefs. Going back to 2008, Buffalo has just five wins in their last 19 games against Syracuse at Coca-Cola Field.

GOLLY GEE: RHP DILLON GEE has won his last three starts. The righty has posted a 2.89ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18.2 innings in the three-game stretch. In his last outing, May 28 against Toledo, Gee posted a Bisons’ season-high nine strikeouts. Gee’s six wins on the season are tied for the second most in the International League, two behind Durham’s RHP Jeremy Hellickson.

DON’T MESS WITH HESS: INF MIKE HESSMAN leads all of baseball with 55RBI on the season. Hessman has two more runs driven in the Double-A Lexington’s INF Kody Hinze and eight more than any other hitter in the International league. Hessman also leads the IL in home runs (18), extra-base hits (34), total bases (129), slugging percentage (.648) and runs scored (39).

HITTING MACHINE: OF JESUS FELICIANO lead the International League with a .386 batting average that is 62 points higher than any other hitter. His average trails only Albuquerque’s INF John Lindsey (.411) for the highest mark in all of baseball. Despite going hitless the last two nights, Feliciano is still hitting .441 (41-93) in 26 games at home. Last season, he led the entire IL with 154 seasons as the Bisons 2009 Stan Barron Most Valuable Player.

TURN IT UP: INF JUSTIN TURNER has collected a hit in all five games he’s played with the Bisons. Turner was claimed off waivers (Baltimore) on May 27 and has averaged .350 (7-20) with the Herd. Last season, Turner led all Orioles’ minor leaguers with a .300 average with Triple-A Norfolk.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (27-27) lost San Diego last night, 5-1, in 11 innings. OF JASON BAY had three hits and a stolen base in the loss. Padres’ INF ADRIAN GONZALEZ provided the dramatics with a walk-off grand slam off LHP RAUL VALDES. The Mets are off today before starting a six-game homestand Friday.