Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (15-20, 5th(-5.0), North) vs. Louisville Bats (20-14, 2nd(-5.0), West)Friday, May 13, 2011 (6:35 p.m.) - Louisville Slugger Field


LHP Casey Fossum (0-2, 3.58) vs. LHP Matt Maloney (1-0, 1.10)

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

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Louisville Bats in the first game of a four-game series from Louisville Slugger Field (6:35 p.m.). Tonight’s game opens an eight-game roadtrip as the Bisons will also travel to Indianapolis, May 17-20. Buffalo is coming off a 4-4 homestand with series splits against Louisville and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

VS. THE BATS: The Bisons and Bats split a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field, May 5-8. The Herd won the first two games before Louisville rallied to win the final two. Each team earned a shutout win in the series. Last season, Buffalo split the four games they played at Louisville Slugger Field.

CASEY ON THE MOUND: LHP CASEY FOSSUM will be making his eighth appearance and fifth start on the year tonight. The southpaw actually made a start and a relief appearance the last time the Bisons faced the Bats. Fossum threw 2.2 shutout innings of relief on May 5 and then was inserted back into the rotation on May 8. On short rest, he allowed three runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings in a defeat to Louisville.

RUN PRODUCER: INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI has the hottest bat in the Bisons lineup. The slugger is six for his last 11 at the plate (.545), with a double, two home runs and nine RBI in the last three games. The stretch, which began with a six-RBI performance on May 10 vs. the Yankees, has raised Pascucci’s average from .193 to .250 in just three days.

ROSTER MOVES APLENTY: The Bisons will welcome two newcomers for the start of their roadtrip. INF LUIS FIGUEROA has been signed by the Mets and OF BUBBA BELL has been acquired in a trade with Cleveland for cash considerations. Bell was hitting .292 (7-24) with two RBI in eight games for Triple-A Columbus. Figueroa was signed by Milwaukee on April 17 and averaged .296 (8-27) with three RBI in nine games with Triple-A Nashville before being released. To make roster room, OF LUCAS DUDA was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to May 11, and C SALOMON MANRIQUEZ was transferred to Double-A Binghamton.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (17-20) defeated the Rockies, 9-5, in their rain make up game at Coors Field. OF CARLOS BELTRAN hit three home runs and drove in six of New York’s nine tallies. Beltran now has eight home runs on the season. The Mets open a three-game series against the Astros in Houston tonight (8:05 p.m.).