Bisons Notes 9/3/10 - Buffalo at Lehigh Valley (7:05 p.m.)

Buffalo Bisons (73-67, 3rd(-11.5), North) vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (56-84, 5th(-28.5), North)Friday, September 3, 2010 (7:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Park


LHP Michael Antonini (1-3, 5.06) vs. RHP Vance Worley (1-3, 3.86)


Radio: WWKB AM 1520, WGR SportsRadio 550 AM, http://www.bisons.com/



TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the first game of a two-game series from Coca-Cola Park (7:05 p.m.). The Bisons are coming off a 1-4 homestand that ended the home portion of the 2010 season. The Herd’s four remaining games this season are on the road as the team will travel to Rochester on Sunday to face the Red Wings for a pair of games. Buffalo is 31-37 on the road this season.



NO POST SEASON: The Bisons loss last night officially eliminated the team from post season contention. The Louisville Bats hold the IL’s lone wild card spot by three games over the Syracuse Chiefs. By failing to reach the playoffs, the Bisons playoff drought has now extended to five seasons.



vs. IRONPIGS: The Bisons have already won their season series with Lehigh Valley. Buffalo is 9-5 against the IronPigs with only two games left. That record includes a 4-2 mark at Coca-Cola Park as the Herd swept a two-game series during their last trip to Allentown, PA, August 9-10. This is the first time Buffalo has won the season series against the IronPigs.



SOLID STARTER: LHP MICHAEL ANTONINI returns to the spot of his best Triple-A performance of his career. The southpaw made his 2010 Bisons debut on August 9 and allowed an unearned run in six innings of work in his first Triple-A win. Antonini struck out five and didn’t walk a batter in the outing. Since then, the lefty is 0-3 in four starts with the Herd.



BATTING RACE: The numbers are stacked against OF JESUS FELICIANO and his pursuit of an IL Batting Championship. Feliciano needs 35 plate appearances over the next four days to qualify. If he falls short, hitless at-bats can be added to his average. However, Feliciano’s .341 average in 86 games is only three points higher than Gwinnett’s Barbaro Canizares (.338).



THE HONOR GOES TO...: Last night, the Bisons handed out their end of the season awards. OF LUCAS DUDA (.314, 17HR, 53RBI) was named the club’s MVP while LHP PAT MISCH (11-4, 3.23ERA, 99K) was named Most Valuable Pitcher. RHP DILLON GEE was given Comeback Player of the Year. He missed 98 games in 2009 and this year leads the IL with 165 strikeouts.