Bisons Notes 6/4/10 - Buffalo at Norfolk (7:15 p.m.)

From Press Release:

Buffalo Bisons (30-24, 3rd(-2.5), North) vs. Norfolk Tides (24-31, 3rd(-7.5), South)

Friday, June 4 (7:15 p.m.) - Harbor Park

RHP Tobi Stoner (3-5, 5.13) vs. RHP Armando Gabino (2-0, 1.80)

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, http://www.bisons.com/

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons face the Norfolk Tides in game one of a four-game series from Harbor Park (7:15 p.m.) Buffalo is coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Syracuse Chiefs. The Herd finished its eight-game homestand 3-5. The Bisons will start an eight-game road trip tonight against Norfolk before traveling to Durham for four games, June 8-11.

vs. THE TIDES: The Bisons have the season series lead against the Tides, having won three of four in Buffalo, May 14-17. Since the Bisons return to the International League, Buffalo is 60-36 against the Tides for a .625 wining percentage. In Norfolk, the Bisons are 32-16 (.667) since 1998.

DON’T MESS WITH HESS: INF MIKE HESSMAN leads all of baseball with 55RBI on the season. Hessman has two more runs driven in then 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) and runs scored (39).

HITTING MACHINE: OF JESUS FELICIANO leads the International League with a .388 batting average that is 64 points higher than any other hitter. His average trails only Albuquerque’s INF John Lindsey (.402) for the highest mark in all of baseball. Feliciano broke his hitless streak yesterday batting 2-4. He is now hitting .443 (43-97) in 27 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 six games he’s played with the Bisons. Turner was claimed off waivers (Baltimore) on May 27 and has averaged .333 (8-24) with the Herd. Last season, Turner led all Orioles’ minor leaguers with a .300 average with Triple-A Norfolk.

ROSTER MOVE: The Bisons placed INF DANIEL MURPHY on the disabled list today. Murphy suffered a high grade MCL tear of his right knee on Wednesday night against Syracuse. Murphy had hit .294 (10-34) with one home run and eight RBI in his first eight games with the team. With the roster room, C JUAN CENTENO was promoted to the Herd. Centeno hit .200 (7-35) with one RBI in 11 games with Single-A St. Lucie.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (27-27) had an off day yesterday. New York hosts Florida tonight for the start of a three-game series with the Marlins (7:10 p.m.). Former Bisons RHP R.A. DICKEY will get the start. The Mets will then face San Diego June 8 for a three-game series as part of a six-game homestand.